LOW DOSE LUNG SCREENING
What is Low Dose Lung Screening?
A low dose lung screening is a CT scan of the lungs that uses low levels of radiation to aid in the early detection of lung cancer. High risk individuals must meet a certain set of criteria and have no symptoms in order to qualify for this test.
What are the Screening Criteria for Low Dose Lung Screening?
- Patient must be 50-77 years of age
- At a minimum, 20 pack year smoking history
- A pack year is packs/day multiplied by the number of years the patient has smoked
- Ex. 1 pack a day for 20 years = 20 pack year
- Ex. 2 pack a day for 10 year = 20 pack year
- Current smoker or has quit within the last 15 years
- Physician has reviewed the program with the patient
- Patient participated in the shared decision-making session during which potential risks and benefits of CT lung screening were discussed.
- Patient was informed of the importance of adherence to annual screening, pact of comorbidities and ability/willingness to undergo diagnosis and treatment.
- Patient was informed of the importance of smoking cessation and/or maintaining smoking abstinence, including the offer of Medicare-covered tobacco cessation counseling services, if applicable.
- Patient is asymptomatic
- No symptoms such as fever, chest pain, new onset of shortness of breath, new or changing cough, coughing up blood or unexplained significant weight loss.