Landscape on CT screening for lung cancer in Asia

Abstract

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality worldwide. Approximately 60% of the world’s new cases of lung cancer and deaths from it are expected in Asia in 2018. Currently, lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is recommended for heavy smokers in North America, Europe and some countries in Asia. Tobacco smoking being the major risk factor for lung cancer, but in Asia, lung cancer in never-smokers (LCINS) is also a concern. This paper reviews on lung cancer incidence, mortality, etiology, smoking in Asia, and systematic reviews on LDCT lung cancer screening studies, including ongoing projects and recommendation on lung cancer screening in Asia. Some of the earliest studies of LDCT lung cancer screening worldwide were in Asia. Many countries in Asia have developed LDCT screening studies in various high-risk participants. Currently, there are several ongoing large-scale lung cancer screening trials to evaluate the efficacy of LDCT screening for never-smokers and light smokers, as well as heavy smokers, and to evaluate the feasibility of population-based LDCT lung cancer screening.