Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pathology
Open Access

Abstract

Methods: The Medicare eligibility guidelines for screening were followed: Patients aged 55-77 who currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years with a tobacco smoking history equal to at least 30 pack years. HCA Midwest facilities are ACR (American College of Radiology) accredited and use approved low dose screening techniques. All sites are participating in the ACR National Radiology Data Registry for lung screening â�?�?which will help benchmark outcomes and process of care measures and develop quality improvement programsâ�? (www.acr.org). For the period of January 2016 â�?�? June 2017, data was obtained by each HCA Midwest facility participating in LDCT Lung Screenings. All screenings were read using the lung reporting and data system (LungRADS) classification method. Utilizing Lungview software, reports were obtained by month and included the LungRADS classification. Results: HCA Midwest facilities had 221 lung screenings January â�?�? December 2016 with 16 lungRAD 4 designations and 4 positive lung cancer diagnoses, a 1.8% diagnosis rate. From January-June of 2017, the same facilities had 126 screenings with 11 lungRAD 4 designations and 4 diagnosed lung cancers, a 3% diagnosis rate. Conclusion: Lung cancer screening programs are a valuable tool in preventive medicine. The data shows that we are seeing benefit and expect as the number of screenings increase, so will the number of early stage cancers diagnosed.

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