Aerodigestive cancers: lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Trends in lung cancer incidence show increases among women and in developing countries, attributed to increased tobacco use. Smoking duration is the strongest predictor of risk and is the basis for new recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force for annual screening with low-dose computed tomography scan for otherwise healthy individuals ages 55 to 80 years with a history of 30 or more pack-years of smoking who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Several other organizations have made similar recommendations. However, the American Academy of Family Physicians concluded that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against such screening and, instead, suggests joint decision making with patients regarding potential benefits and risks of screening. For patients diagnosed with lung cancer, physicians should be aware of the changing nomenclature and classification of lung cancers and recent important advances in development of chemotherapy drugs and targeted therapies.