Is X-ray reliable for lung cancer screening? Lung cancer screening still requires this kind of examination

X-ray examination is the most common method and is often used as the most direct method to detect lung cancer in physical examination packages. However, some patients find that there is nothing wrong with their X-rays, but lung cancer is screened out after further examinations. In fact, X-ray screening for lung cancer is not reliable. CT is the most useful method for detecting lung cancer.

Why are X-rays unreliable for lung cancer screening?

Some doctors pointed out that the resolution of X-ray examination for lung cancer is low, resulting in a relatively low detection rate. If a chest X-ray diagnoses lung cancer, most of the time it has already entered the late stage. Therefore, early lung cancer cannot be detected in time through X-rays, which can easily delay the disease. Therefore, X-ray examination for lung cancer is not reliable.

What kind of tests are needed for lung cancer screening?

Compared with X-rays, CT screening for early lung cancer is better than chest X-rays. A survey found that after testing people with high risk factors for lung cancer, the mortality rate of doing low-dose spiral CT three times a year and doing chest X-rays three times a year was different. The mortality rate of lung cancer screening with CT was relatively reduced by 20%.

Therefore, some doctors recommend that people over 40 years old should undergo chest CT scans to screen for lung cancer every year, especially those at high risk. CT is most sensitive to peripheral lung cancer, and enhanced CT has a sensitivity of 90% for lesions larger than three millimeters and a sensitivity of up to 95% for lesions larger than one centimeter.

If the central lung cancer occurs in the bronchial mucosa, early CT scans cannot detect the lesions in time. In this case, bronchoscopy and sputum examinations are necessary to more accurately diagnose lung cancer. Especially for high-risk groups, such as long-term smokers, those with repeated coughs, hemoptysis, etc., if no abnormal lesions are found after CT scans, further bronchoscopy and sputum tests are needed to help with diagnosis.

What should I pay attention to when CT scanning my lungs?

1. Remove metal objects

Before scanning, any metal objects worn on the body should be removed to avoid artifacts caused by metal objects that may affect the examination results.

2. Wear protective clothing

Since the thyroid gland is sensitive to radiation and is located above the lungs, the thyroid gland must be shielded when scanning the lungs to prevent radiation damage to the thyroid gland.

Warm reminder: high-risk groups should have low-dose spiral CT scans regularly. If you have chronic lung diseases, you need to have a checkup every six months. Be sure to inform your doctor of your specific situation before doing a CT scan and communicate with your doctor, especially if you have chronic diseases. In addition, even low-dose spiral CT scans should not be performed repeatedly, as it will cause harm to the body due to excessive radiation. Drink plenty of water after the examination to promote metabolism and allow radiation to be quickly excreted from the body.