Authors' recommendations: Discrepancies in reported outcomes of patients involved in CT screening for lung cancer continue to persist. Some data show promise in the detection of early-stage lung cancers for at-risk populations, which may provide greater potential for treatment. However, issues of over-diagnosis, use of invasive procedures for benign disease, impact on survival, cost-effectiveness and appropriate target populations remain. Evidence for the effectiveness of treating lung cancer patients identified by CT screening is lacking. Furthermore, results of several RCTs (Yau et al 2007) expected to be available by 2009 remain to be published. RCTs provide the comparative evidence lacking in case series studies. Accordingly, an RCT can offer more definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of a diagnostic test such as CT screening in improving lung cancer prognosis. The only RCT available for this update was limited by substantial loss to follow-up.Some sources examined suggest that CT screening may be effective in diagnosing lung cancer at earlier stages than possible by chest X-ray. However, it remains unclear which populations can be considered optimal screening targets, and substantial doubts remain about gains in life expectancy from CT screening. This technology has beenpreviously monitored and therefore no further review by HealthPACT is required as routine scanning will identify any relevant studies published in the future.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2010

URL for published report: Not Available

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Australia

Organisation Name: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: School of Public Health, Mail Drop 545, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, AUSTRALIA, Tel: +61 8 8313 4617

Contact Name: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Contact Email: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Copyright: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA)