A narrative review of lung cancer screening: risks of lung cancer screening

Low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer in high-risk individuals is the current standard of care in the United States and European countries. LDCT has been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality. However, potential “side effects” and “risks” of lung cancer screening should be concerned and weighed against its benefits. To provide a summary of the risk of lung cancer screening as performed with LDCT. The potential risks of LDCT screening are generally considered to be outweighed by the benefit of reducing the risk of lung cancer death in the high-risk population. The studies on harm of LDCT screening varied on definition of positive test and study protocol. However, using current nodule protocols guidelines defining positive nodule based on consistency, size, and round of screening with certain management protocol as Lung-RADS would have reduced in the false positive rate in baseline and subsequent rounds, prevented invasive procedures and complications associated with false positive exams and decreased the overdiagnosis rate. Currently, there are no epidemiological evidence supporting increased cancer incidence or mortality from radiation dose of the LDCT screening for lung cancer which below 100 mSv. While the risks are generally considered to be outweighed by the benefit of reducing the risk of lung cancer death in the screening-eligible population, it is important to understand these potential risks, especially given the requirements for shared decision making.