When many people hear about a diagnosis of lung cancer they assume it is a death sentence. Long-term survival statistics are not very encouraging. But a new study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that not all lung cancer cases are created equal.
CT scans of the chest have been recommended as a screening technique for high-risk patients. The goal is to find lung tumors before they cause symptoms. Researchers compared the results from chest X-rays to those from CT scans in the National Lung Screening Trial. They found that 320 volunteers had to be screened with CT imaging to detect one lethal case of lung cancer. The screening also resulted in overdiagnosis.
In other words, CT detected some tumors that most likely would not cause any trouble. It comes as a shock to learn that there are lung cancers that may not progress, although we have heard this previously about prostate or breast tumors. Doctors have a hard time, however, telling the difference between aggressive tumors and those which will not lead to harm. As a result, almost everyone diagnosed with a lung cancer is treated aggressively. The researchers hope that their study will spur improved diagnostic techniques that will allow more tailored treatment for everyone.
