It also encouraged the use of best practices for identifying high-risk individuals; acquiring consistently high-quality images from LDCT and incorporating radiological guidelines, including definitions for positive versus negative results; integrating smoking cessation into lung cancer CT screening programs; incorporating a defined process of surgical or other diagnostic interventions for suspicious nodules; and using a defined clinical work-up for “indeterminate nodules” and for pathology reporting of nodules.

Mulshine says training around these methods is crucial in identifying and addressing high risks of developing lung cancer early on.


“Institutions are not always used to performing low-dose CT so they have to learn to do it and do it well, with screening,” he said. “It’s the leading cause of death in the U.S. and the rest of the world and we’d like to help avoid that in these tobacco-exposed individuals who are at elevated risk of developing this disease.”

The IASLC acknowledges that implementation of LDCT screening worldwide is up to the authority of each individual national health service.

The 19th WCLC took place in Toronto, Canada.

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