Targeted screening in routine primary care detects lung cancer in 2% of high risk patients, study finds

Screening high risk current or former smokers identified at annual reviews for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as part of routine primary care led to 2% receiving a lung cancer diagnosis, mostly at an early stage that could be treated with curative intent, a study has shown.1

“We report a novel NHS commissioned service targeting individuals attending annual COPD review,” explained the study authors, led by Helen Grover of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. “We have demonstrated that this can be established within routine NHS clinical practice engaging individuals from deprived areas with a lung cancer prevalence of 2% with improvements …