Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines and
Recommendations
Organization Groups eligible for screening Year
American Academy of Family
Evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against screening. 2013
Practice1
American Association for 1. Age 55 to 79 years with ≥ 30 pack-year smoking history.
Thoracic Surgery2
2. Long-term lung cancer survivors who have completed 4
years of surveillance without recurrence, and who can
tolerate lung cancer treatment in order to detect second
primary lung cancer until the age of 79. 2012
3. Age 50 to 79 years with a 20 pack-year smoking history
and additional comorbidity that produces a cumulative risk
of developing lung cancer ≥ 5% in 5 years.
American Cancer Society3 Age 55 to 74 years with ≥ 30 pack-year smoking history, either
currently smoking or have quit within the past 15 years, and who 2013
are in relatively good health.
American College of Chest Age 55 to 74 years with ≥ 30 pack-year smoking history and either
2013
Physicians4 continue to smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
American College of Chest
Age 55 to 74 years with ≥ 30 pack-year smoking history and either
Physicians and American 2012
continue to smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
Society of Clinical Oncology5
American Lung Association6 Age 55 to 74 years with ≥ 30 pack-year smoking history and no
2012
history of lung cancer.
National Comprehensive 1. Age 55 to74 years with ≥ 30 pack-year smoking history
Cancer Network7 and smoking cessation < 15 years.
2012
2. Age ≥ 50 years and ≥ 20 pack-year smoking history and 1
additional risk factor (other than secondhand smoke).a
U.S. Preventive Services Task Age 55 to 80 years with ≥ 30 pack-year smoking history and
2013
Force8 smoking cessation < 15 years.
a
Additional risk factors include cancer history, lung disease history, family history of lung cancer, radon exposure,
occupational exposure, and history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pulmonary fibrosis. Cancers with increased
risk of developing new primary lung cancer include survivors of lung cancer, lymphomas, cancer of the head and neck, and
smoking-related cancers. Occupational exposures identified as carcinogens targeting the lungs include silica, cadmium,
asbestos, arsenic, beryllium, chromium (VI), diesel fumes, and nickel.
References
1. American Academy of Family Physicians. Lung cancer clinical recommendations. Available at:
[Link] Accessed September 9,
2016.
2. Jaklitsch MT, Jacobson FL, Austin JH. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery guidelines for
lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography scans for lung cancer survivors and other
high-risk groups. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2012;144(1):33–38. DOI:
10.1016/[Link].2012.05.060. Available at: [Link]
3. Smith RA, Andrews K, Brooks D, DeSantis CE, Fedewa SA, Lortet-Tieulent J, et al. Cancer screening in
the United States, 2016: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and current issues in
cancer screening. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 2016;66(2):96–114. Available at:
[Link]
4. Detterbeck FC, Mazzone PJ, Naidich DP, Bach PB. Screening for lung cancer: Diagnosis and
management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical
practice guidelines. Chest 2013;143(5 Suppl):e78S–92S. DOI: 10.1378/chest.12-2350. Available at:
[Link]
5. Bach PB, Mirkin JN, Oliver TK. Benefits and harms of CT screening for lung cancer: a systematic
review. JAMA 2012;307(22):2418–2429. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.5521. Available at:
[Link]
6. American Lung Association. Providing guidance on lung cancer screening to patients and physicians. An
update from the American Lung Association Screening Committee. April 30, 2015. Available at:
[Link] Accessed
September 9, 2016.
7. Wood DE, Eapen GA, Ettinger DS. Lung cancer screening. Journal of the National Comprehensive
Cancer Control 2012;10(2):240–265. Available at: [Link]
8. National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Lung cancer
screening. Version 2. 2016.