VA Office of Research and Development
Lung cancer screening with low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) is currently recommended for high-risk individuals who are 50 to 80 years old, have smoked cigarettes for at least 20 pack-years, and currently smoke or quit smoking within the past 15 years. In a prospective cohort at Nashville, Denver, Louisville, Chicago, Kansas City, Salisbury and Seattle Veteran Affairs medical centers, the investigators will evaluate the detection of lung cancer using an expanded screening eligibility criteria based on Veterans' personal and service-related exposures compared to standard of care criteria. Screening a larger population will increase the number of lung nodules needing clinical management and these nodules may or may not be cancer. In a population of Veterans with positive screenings at Nashville, the investigators will also validate a combination biomarker-based approach to manage screen-detected lung nodules to reduce time to lung cancer diagnosis and use of invasive procedures. This study will also convene a Veteran Community Advisory Board and interview Veterans to better understand their thoughts about lung cancer screening and preferences for outreach and engagement.
Annual lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for individuals aged 50-80 years with a ≥20 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years. However, USPSTF eligibility criteria identify only an estimated 45-65% of lung cancers that are ultimately diagnosed. Veterans face an increased risk of lung cancer due to higher rates of tobacco use and additional service-related exposures, including Agent Orange, asbestos, burn pits, and ionizing radiation. This proof-of-concept, non-…
Inclusion Criteria: 1.Date of birth and sex recorded 2.Active user of VA (at least 1 primary care encounter in prior 2 years) at Nashville, Denver, Louisville, Chicago Jesse Brown, Kansas City, Salisbury or Seattle VAMC 3.Tobacco Use: Self-reported tobacco use of at least 100 cigarettes in lifetime 4.Additional Risk Factor 1. Self-reported history of military service exposure: direct contact with asbestos- containing material, agent orange, ionizing radiation or burn pit 2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) defined as one of the two definitions below: 1. Forced expiratory volu…
CT exam that uses low-dose radiation