Spiral CT scans can detect smaller lesions in the lungs, allowing early detection of lung cancer and better chances at survival, a local community study held at Memorial Cancer Institute revealed.

The study, held in November of 2006 and 2007, included more than 200 men and women 50 years of age and older with a history of smoking, among other criteria. The patients were interviewed via phone and vital information was collected. The study allowed for eligible participants to receive free screening spiral CT scans of the chest without contrast for the purpose of study.

The oncologists found that spiral CT scans were superior in quality of images than X-rays, allowing them an improved view of the lung to detect smaller lesions not evident on x-rays. An incidental finding of the study was early stage lung cancer in 1.3% of the population tested. The early diagnosis was followed by successful treatment of lung cancer.

“Preliminary screening studies utilizing CT scans have suggested that early detection of lung cancer may be possible. However the impact on overall survival is yet to be proven ” said Dr. Raja Mudad, lead investigator of the local study and Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program at Memorial Cancer Institute. “Large randomized trials are currently underway to answer this important question.”

The study was presented at the first International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) European Lung Cancer Conference, held this year in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to Dr. Mudad, the research team included Dr. Atif Hussein, medical director of the Memorial Cancer Institute, Dr. Mark Block of Thoracic Surgery, Dawn Annesty, Cynthia Frankel and Patricia Forsyth.