A study found that rates of downstream procedures and complications associated with lung cancer screening are substantially higher in routine clinical practice than previously observed. Researchers analyzed data for 9,266 patients screened for lung cancer and found that 15.9% had abnormalities on their baseline low dose computed tomography (LDCT), and 9.5% were diagnosed with lung cancer within 12 months. Additionally, 31.9% underwent downstream imaging, and 2.8% underwent downstream procedures, with complication rates substantially higher than in previous studies. The study highlights the need for practice-based strategies to improve the quality of care and prioritize lung cancer screening among patients most likely to benefit.
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Understanding the downstream procedures and complications associated with lung cancer screening
