Should we retain smaller growing nodules in lung cancer screening programmes for surveillance?

The UK National Screening Committee recently approved a national programme for lung cancer screening (LCS) by low-dose CT (LDCT).1 Measures that will reduce burden on downstream clinical care in the National Health Service (NHS) are therefore greatly welcomed. This need is further amplified in the postpandemic era where services are already stretched and waiting times are higher than ever.2 In the current issue of Thorax, Creamer et al present results from the SUMMIT study’s prospective LCS nodule management algorithm that aims to do exactly that.3 Their protocol differs from other LCS protocols in that they increase the size threshold at which to refer participants with growing solid lung nodules from the LCS programme to lung cancer services. There are various available protocols for the management of screen-detected and incidental pulmonary nodules. Table 1 summarises the latest iterations of the nodule management...
Source: Thorax - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Thorax Editorial Source Type: research