Paradigm shift in early detection: Lung cancer screening to comprehensive CT screening

Abstract

Large-scale lung cancer screening implementation combined with improvements in early detection techniques for three major tobacco-related diseases presents a rare opportunity to markedly improve population health outcomes for millions of people. Chest CT enables routine detection of early lung cancer as well as characterizing coronary calcium and detecting early emphysema in the course of lung cancer screening. Integrated preventive care centered on comprehensive chest CT screening has the potential to bring large benefits across co-morbid diseases with a common etiology. The current one-disease/ silo paradigm of medical practice is an obstacle to maximizing chest CT screening's benefits. The large potential for improved health outcomes across the world demands careful public health, quality assurance, and health policy considerations. A systematic analysis of imaging and health data from ongoing chest CT screening could accelerate this paradigm shift through sustained optimization of screening detection, quantitation and management for the three most lethal tobacco-related co-morbidities. To coordinate this effort to advance progress with implementing the full benefit of comprehensive chest CT screening, a new multi- disciplinary professional and advocacy consortium has been developed to foster collaboration to realize the future of multi-disease chest CT screening.

Keywords: Chest CT scan; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Coronary artery disease; Emphysema; Lung cancer; Lung cancer screening; Quantitative imaging.