In November 2010, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) released the results of an important study that found CT scans used as a screening tool reduced lung cancer mortality rates in smokers by up to 20 percent, compared to chest X-rays. This study offered hope toward the early detection of lung cancer, which previously had no reliable screening test.

Lung cancer tops the statistics as the deadliest cancer in the United States, with more than twice the deaths of the second deadliest cancer, colorectal cancer. With nearly 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths in the United States attributed to tobacco use, the results of the NCI study affect a significant number of people.

While more research is needed to fully develop screening guidelines, Texas Oncology encourages men and women who smoke to consult their physicians to determine if a CT scan is a good option for them, as each patient’s individual case may vary from another.

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