USPSTF Expands Lung Cancer Screening Recommendations

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its recommendations for lung cancer screening in adults aged 50 to 80 years with a history of smoking.

This update to the group’s 2013 recommendation is intended for older adults who have a history of smoking at least 20 packs per year, and who currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years.

After a systematic review of the accuracy, benefits, and harms of screening, it is recommended that this patient population be screened annually for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). Screening should continue until the patient has not smoked for 15 years or is unable to have curative lung surgery in the event of lung cancer.

“The USPSTF concluded with moderate certainty that annual screening for lung cancer with LDCT has a moderate net benefit in persons at high risk of lung cancer based on age, total cumulative exposure to tobacco smoke, and years since quitting smoking,” the group concluded.

—Leigh Precopio

Reference:

US Preventive Task Force. Screening for lung cancer: US preventive services task force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;325(10):962-970. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.1117