AUTHOR=Zhang Zixuan , Gao Yinyan , Liu Shaohui , Ding Binrong , Zhang Xuewei , Wu Irene X. Y. 

TITLE=Initial low-dose computed tomography screening results and summary of participant characteristics: based on the latest Chinese guideline

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2023.1085434

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2023.1085434

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Background: The low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been promoted as a promising screening strategy for early detection of lung cancer. China released the latest lung cancer screening guideline in 2021. The compliance of the individuals who received LDCT for lung cancer screening with the guideline is unknown yet. It is necessary to summarize the distribution of guideline-defined lung cancer-related risk factors in Chinese population so as to inform the selection of target population for the future lung cancer screening.

Methods: A single-center, cross-sectional study design was adopted. All participants were individuals who underwent LDCT at a tertiary teaching hospital in Hunan, China, between January 1 and December 31, 2021. LDCT results were derived along with guideline-based characteristics for descriptive analysis. 

Results: A total of 5486 participants were included. Over one-quarter (1426, 26.0%) the participants who received screening did not meet the guideline-defined high-risk population, even among non-smokers (36.4%). Most of the participants (4,622, 84.3%) were found to have lung nodules, while no clinical intervention was required basically. The detection rate of positive nodules varied from 46.8% to 71.2% when using different cut-off values for positive nodules. Among non-smoking female, ground glass opacity appeared to be more significantly common compared with non-smoking male (26.7% V.S 21.8%). 

Conclusions: Over one-quarter individuals received LDCT screening did not meet the guideline-defined high-risk populations. Appropriate cut-off values for positive nodules needs to be continuously explored. More precise and localized criteria for high-risk individuals are needed, especially for non-smoking female.