Thoracic Oncology (Lung Cancer)

Lung Cancer Screening

The primary goal of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening is to detect lung cancer at curable stages while minimizing harm to those without lung cancer. Since 2015, Cleveland Clinic’s lung cancer screening program has performed > 17,000 LDCTs, with > 5,000 individuals screened in 2021. More than 130 lung cancers have been diagnosed through screening in the past three years.

In 2021, our centralized program grew to a total of 12 sites. Adherence to annual follow-up was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic but overall follow-up remained high. Despite 9% of screening exams being category 4, fewer than 0.5% of those screened have had an invasive procedure performed for a benign finding. We continue to strive to provide the highest quality of care to those being screened while growing through adopting the expanded eligibility criteria of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and increasing our outreach efforts.

The Percentage of Individuals Who Complete LDCT Screening for Lung Cancer Who are Screen-Eligible Based on the USPSTF Criteria

2022

* of 2617

** of 2953

LDCT = low-dose computed tomography, USPSTF = United States Preventive Services Task Force

Percentage of Individuals Who Currently Smoke Who Participated in LDCT Screening That Have Documentation of a Smoking Cessation Intervention¹ (N = 6519)

2022

¹Based on percentage of individuals who currently smoke who participate in LDCT screening who have documentation of a smoking cessation intervention (e.g. discussion, an offer to participate in a smoking cessation program) during the shared decision-making visit.

LDCT = Low-dose computed tomography

Percentage of Individuals who Complete a LDCT Lung Cancer Screening Exam and Were Identified to Have a Lung-RADS® Category 3 Nodule in Which a Surveillance LDCT Scan is Performed at 6 Months (+/- 2 months) (N = 324)

2022

LDCT = Low-dose computed tomography, Lung-RADS® = lung imaging reporting and data system

Percentage of Individuals who Complete a LDCT Lung Cancer Screening Exam and Were Identified to Have a Lung-RADS® Category 4 (A) Nodule in Which a Surveillance LDCT Scan, CT Scan, or PET Scan is Performed at 3 Months (+/- 6 weeks) (N = 230)

2022

CT = computerized tomography, LDCT = low-dose computed tomography, Lung-RADS® = lung imaging reporting and data system, PET = positron emission tomography