USPSTF Draft Recommendation Expands Those Eligible for LDCT Lung Cancer Screening

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft recommendation on July 7 that could nearly double the population of those eligible for annual lung cancer screening with low-dose CT. The proposed changes revise the USPSTF high-risk category to include:

• adults ages 50 to 80 years

• who have a 20 pack-year smoking history, and

• currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

The Task Force issued the recommendation with a "B" grade.

When finalized, this recommendation will replace the 2014 USPSTF recommendation on annual screening for lung cancer with LDCT in adults ages 55 to 80 years who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

The updated recommendation is open for public comment until 8:00 PM on August 3, 2020.

The USPSTF is an independent, non-federal, volunteer group of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. The Task Force works to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services, such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medicines. The recommendations apply to people with no signs or symptoms of the disease being discussed.

Posted 7/7/2020