"These observations argue for the use of individualized risk assessment of lung cancer death instead of the NLST entry criteria to increase the efficiency of low-dose CT screening. ... [T]ailoring of low-dose CT screening to a patient’s predicted risk of lung cancer death could narrow the NLST-eligible population without a loss in the potential public health benefits of screening or a disproportionate increase in the potential harms," they wrote.
Dr. Kovalchik and her colleagues noted that this screening technique was of limited efficacy in one important subgroup of smokers: those who had coexisting pulmonary disorders. Further study of the benefits and harms of low-dose CT screening in such patients is needed.
This study was funded by the National Cancer Institute. No relevant financial conflicts of interest were reported.