Low dose CT protocol: Capability for early detection of lung carcinoma

Abstract

Lung carcinoma is the most common cause of death among men who died from cancer; also, among women, the incidence of this disease is on the increase. Use of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) has enhanced detection capability for pulmonary nodules. Nowadays, low radiation dose CT technique (LDCT) increases interest in lung cancer screening. This study is a part of the project whose aim is early diagnosis and well-timed treatment of lung carcinoma. Participants in this screening were above the age of 40, both smokers and non-smokers, who have undergone MSCT examination of lungs following low-dose protocol (LDCT). In the first ten months of the study, 375 volunteers have been examined. Overall number of detected nodules was 361; and 303 of these nodules have been characterized as non-calcificated. 95 participants (24.27%) had at least one non-calcificated nodule. 17 patients were referred to pulmologist and for further clinical evaluation. LDCT significantly increases detection of small, non-calcificated pulmonary nodules, and, therefore, gives higher opportunity to detect early lung carcinoma.