Lung Cancer Screening CT Program

Candidates for this screening include:

• Ages 50 to 75
• Current smoker, previous smoker with significant smoking history (20- to 30-pack years for example)

Have one or more of the following risk factors:

• Exposure to radon, silica, cadmium, asbestos, arsenic, beryllium, chromium, diesel fumes or nickel
• Personal history of cancer, COPD, or pulmonary fibrosis
• Family history of lung cancer

The CT scan of the chest at National Jewish Health provides the clearest image of the lung tissue with the least possible amount of radiation exposure. The lung cancer screening CT scan can detect lung nodules. The radiologist evaluates the features of the lung nodule including size, borders and growth over time. Lung cancer can be identified at an early stage when treatment is more effective. Learn more about our Radiation Reduction Program.

This is a simple test. You lay flat on the CT table and the machine scans over your chest during one short breath hold.

Side Effects
You will be exposed to a small amount of radiation from the CT scanner.

The lung cancer screening CT scan is a low-dose scan usually in the range of 1-2 mSv. This is a very small risk to take in order to save your life from a more serious health threat – lung cancer.

A lung nodule is a small rounded area that looks like a white spot on the CT scan. Nodules are common and about 97 percent will not be cancerous. A nodule can, however, represent early lung cancer, so it needs to be well evaluated and monitored appropriately.

Suspicious looking lung nodules may require further testing such as a PET/CT, CT-guided needle biopsy or examination by navigational bronchoscopy.

Lung nodules need to be identified and then watched. We follow the Fleischner Society Guidelines with regard to lung nodule management. These guidelines are based on highly reviewed and accepted research. They are specific about when lung nodules need to be rescanned based on size and other criteria. The goal of the guidelines is to image appropriately and safely and to detect lung cancer at the earliest possible stage.

Lung nodules with features suspicious for cancer usually need further evaluation. Other testing may include:

• PET scan
• CT-guided lung biopsy
• Navigational bronchoscopy

National Jewish Health has been voted the nation’s number one respiratory hospital for 15 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. We know lungs and we know lung cancer. Our Lung Cancer Center is comprehensive, compassionate and personalized. Our team of providers are known and respected nationally for their lung cancer expertise. Learn more about our Lung Cancer Center.  

Our radiologists are all medical doctors trained in radiology with extra training in chest (thoracic) radiology. Many of our thoracic radiologists are nationally recognized experts on lung cancer and lung cancer screening CT.