Please call the Brigham Lung Center at 617-278-0810 for further information or visit the Brigham Lung Center website.
The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends LCS using CT for the following risk group:
Speak to your primary care physician to see if you qualify for LCS CT. All patients require a physician order.
The LCS scan reduces the radiation dose to the patient by only scanning the area of the lungs. A normal chest CT scan uses a higher dose to see additional structures such as the heart and mediastinum, which are more difficult to see using low dose techniques. The dose used in a LCS CT is similar to that seen in screening mammograms.
Call the number on the back of your health insurance card and ask a representative about your coverage.
You should be in your best usual state of health. This may include a long-standing cough or shortness of breath due to smoking. The test should not be performed when you have new symptoms, such as fever, chest pain, a new or changing cough, shortness of breath that you have never felt before, coughing up blood, or unexplained weight loss.
Radiation can increase a person’s risk of cancer 20 or more years later. No test, including lung cancer screening CT, is perfect. Important medical conditions, including lung cancer may go undetected. Twenty five to 30 percent of the time, findings may require additional imaging or evaluation. Small lung nodules are very common, and more than 97 percent are not cancer although they can cause anxiety. Repeating the examination in 3 months is the most frequent follow-up exam to track nodules. Occasionally, patients need a procedure such as a biopsy that will only be performed with your informed consent.
Areas of your body next to your lungs are partially imaged. In a small percentage of cases (5 to 10 percent), the CT scan will show an abnormal finding in one of these areas, such as your kidneys, adrenal glands, liver or thyroid. Your healthcare provider who ordered your exam can help determine what, if any, additional testing you may need.
Your healthcare provider who ordered your exam will receive a copy of your results. You can sign up for Patient Gateway to view the results directly.
Brigham and Women's Hospital's Lung Cancer Screening program is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Radiation Control Program as a “healing arts screening program.” Additionally, the American College of Radiology recognizes our site as a “designated Lung Cancer Screening Center.” These designations assure our patients that they will receive the very best quality care while minimizing the radiation dose.
The best way to prevent lung cancer is to stop smoking. Call your primary physician for questions and appointment options. Along with your physician, we can help!
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