Summary of recommendations for screening for lung cancer from Canada and elsewhere
| Organization | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (current) | Screen asymptomatic adults aged 55 to 74 years with at least a 30 pack-year smoking history who smoke or quit smoking less than 15 years ago for lung cancer with low-dose CT every year for 3 consecutive years |
| Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (2003) (5) | Do not screen asymptomatic adults for lung cancer with chest radiography; insufficient evidence for using low-dose CT as a screening test for asymptomatic adults |
| US Preventive Services Task Force (2013) (4) | Screen asymptomatic adults aged 55 to 80 years with a minimum 30 pack-year smoking history who smoke or quit smoking within the last 15 years for lung cancer with low-dose CT annually |
| Cancer Care Ontario (2013) (26) | Screen high-risk populations (i.e., adults 55–74 yr of age with a minimum smoking history of 30 pack-years or more who currently smoke or quit smoking within the past 15 yr and are free of disease at the time of screening) for lung cancer with low-dose CT for 3 years followed by biennial screening |
| American Cancer Society (2013) (27) | Screen adults aged 55 to 74 years with a 30 pack-year or more smoking history who smoke or quit smoking within the previous 15 years and are in relatively good health for lung cancer with low-dose CT annually |
| American College of Chest Physicians (2013) (28) | Screen adults aged 55 to 74 years with a 30 pack-year or more smoking history who smoke or quit smoking within the previous 15 years for lung cancer with low-dose CT annually |
| American Lung Association (2012, updated 2015) (29) | Screen adults aged 55 to 74 years with a smoking history of at least 30 pack-years and no history of lung cancer who smoke or quit smoking with the last 15 years for lung cancer using low-dose CT annually |
| American Association for Thoracic Surgery (2012) (30) | Screen adults aged 55 to 79 years with a 30 pack-year or more smoking history; adults with a previous diagnosis of lung cancer who have completed 4 years of surveillance without recurrence, and who can tolerate lung cancer treatment following screening to detect second primary lung cancer until the age of 79 years; and adults aged 50 to 79 years with a 20 pack-year smoking history and an additional comorbidity that produces a cumulative risk of lung cancer of 5% or more in 5 years for lung cancer with low-dose CT annually |
| National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2015) (31) | Screen adults aged 55 to 74 years with a 30 pack-year or more smoking history who quit smoking less than 15 years ago, and adults aged 50 years or older with a 20 pack-year or more smoking history and 1 additional risk factor (other than exposure to second-hand smoke) for lung cancer with low-dose CT annually |
| American Academy of Family Physicians (2013) (32) | Insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening for lung cancer with low-dose CT |
Note: CT = computed tomography.