Comparison of the significance of chest X-rays and CT for lung cancer screening

  According to the data from the National Tumor Registry, the number of new lung cancer cases in China reached 605,900 in 2010, ranking first in malignant tumors.  Low-dose spiral CT (LDCT) is 4-10 times more sensitive than conventional chest radiography in detecting early lung cancer, and can detect about 85% of stage I peripheral lung cancer (the expected survival rate of 10 years after surgery for stage I peripheral lung cancer is 92%).  The U.S. National Lung Cancer Screening Trial demonstrated that low-dose spiral CT screening can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20%, making it the most effective lung cancer screening tool available.  Low-dose spiral CT has low radiation exposure and is not associated with health effects when received once a year.