CT Scans Potent in Lung Cancer Detection

In a milestone achievement that can bend the lung cancer mortality curve downwards, a new study reveals that annual screening using the three dimensional computed tomography (CT) can cure detected lung tumors at their earliest stage in 80 percent of patients.

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both of the lungs. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States.

On an estimate 350,679 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer. Due to lack of adequate detection methods, malignancies are often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Lung cancer accounts for 29 percent of all cancer deaths.

Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer and about 90 percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by it. However, passive smokers and exposure to tobacco smoke raises 30 percent chances of developing lung cancer in people who are not smokers.

The new research propagates three-dimensional imaging of the chest through CT scans. These scans allow physicians to detect much smaller lumps that are might not be captured in a conventional chest X-ray.

Computed tomography (CT) scan is a procedure in which cross-sectional images are created and processed through a computer forming a three dimensional image whereas, X-rays is a radiographic study used for diagnosing unusual masses within the lungs.

Although chest x-rays are effective in detecting abnormalities within the lungs, new research has found that the CT Scan is more effective in early detection of many lung diseases.

The five year survival rate among patients diagnosed with stage I lung cancer is about 70 percent whereas, it dips to 5 percent among those with stage IV disease.

As CT Scan’s are too sensitive, they can detect much smaller objects than can be seen on a conventional chest X-ray, thus allowing early detection of cancerous tumors.

The study conducted at the Cornell University's Weill Medical College in New York City revealed that diagnoses through CT Scan’s yielded an estimated 10-year survival rate of more than 80 percent patients.

The survival rate posted by the study ranges between 80 percent to 92 percent. Considering all the tumors identified, 80 percent of the patients were expected to live for 10 years. This figure soared to 88 percent if the tumor is detected at an early stage.

Whereas, if the patient undergoes surgery within a month of diagnosis the survival chances boost to 92 percent.

However, the technique also has some flaws which needs to be taken care of. The critics charged CT scans because of it’s sensitive nature. It can identify many nodules that may not be cancerous and thereby necessitating further investigations and biopsies.