Resumen de Computed Tomography Screening for Lung Cancer A High-Value Proposition?

Joshua A. Roth, Scott D. Ramsey

• High-quality evidence shows that low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) screening effectively reduces lung cancer–related deaths in patients who smoked heavily.1 Compared with many other cancer screening modalities, this approach will be expensive,2 but whether it will be cost-effective is unknown. In the September 2015 issue of JAMA Oncology, Goffin et al3 estimate the cost-effectiveness of CT screening for lung cancer in Canada. This study is timely because it comes in the wake of the US National Lung Screening Trial (NSLT) and widespread availability of CT screening insurance coverage in the United States. The Canadian government has not yet implemented CT screening and often considers cost-effectiveness prior to making coverage decisions for new technologies.