Lung cancer screening update

Bottom line

The ACS guidelines recommend that clinicians initiate a discussion about LDCT lung cancer screening with individuals 55-74 years of age who have at least a 30-pack-year history of smoking who are either current smokers or have quit within the last 15 years. Screening should occur annually until age 74. Current smokers should be counseled to quit.

Reference

American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines. Published early online Jan. 11, 2013, in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (doi:10.3322/caac.21172).

Dr. Skolnik is an associate director of the family medicine residency program at Abington (Pa.) Memorial Hospital. Dr. Ransmeier is a third-year resident in the program. This column, Clinical Guidelines, appears regularly in Family Practice News.