The National Cancer Institute released initial results of the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST), a randomized national trial including more than 53,000 current and former heavy smokers ages 55 to 74. The trial compared the effectiveness of two lung cancer screening procedures — low-dose helical (spiral) computed tomography (CT) and standard chest X-ray — on lung cancer mortality and found 20 percent fewer lung cancer deaths among those screened with low-dose helical CT.
Stephen Swensen, M.D., Mayo Clinic radiologist and principal investigator of the NLST study in Rochester, Minn., previously led a five-year prospective study assessing the effectiveness of low-dose helical chest computed tomographic (CT) among individuals at high risk for lung cancer. This initial research was a key contribution that led to the NCI’s National Lung Cancer Screening Trial. Below, Dr. Swensen offers his reaction to this exciting news.
Below is a link to an edited youtube video with Dr. Swensen that you can embed with your stories.
