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GI cancer mortality in participants in low dose CT screening for lung cancer with a focus on pancreatic cancer

  • 0Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
Scientific Reports +

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December 1, 2024

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December 1, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Lung cancer screening participants face significant gastrointestinal cancer mortality, especially pancreatic cancer. Low-dose CT scans may reveal early, undocumented pancreatic abnormalities, highlighting screening program potential beyond lung health.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Radiology
  • Public Health

Background

  • Lung cancer is the leading global cancer death cause; early detection improves survival.
  • Annual low-dose CT (LDCT) screening is recommended for high-risk individuals (age, smoking history).
  • High-risk lung cancer screening populations share risk factors for other cancers, including gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate gastrointestinal cancer mortality rates among participants in a lung cancer screening program.
  • To assess the potential of low-dose CT (LDCT) scans in detecting pancreatic cancer within this cohort.
  • To analyze the distribution and demographics of GI cancer deaths in the study population.

Main Methods

  • Utilized data from the prospective International Early Lung Cancer Action Project (I-ELCAP) cohort study.
  • Analyzed GI cancer deaths among 10,150 participants in New York State (1992-2010).
  • Retrospectively reviewed LDCT scans for pancreatic cancer findings in cases diagnosed within 24 months post-screening.

Main Results

  • 189 participants died from GI cancers; pancreatic cancer was the most frequent (41.8%), followed by esophageal (17.5%) and colon (16.9%).
  • A significant proportion (43.4%) of GI cancer deaths occurred within 5 years of the last LDCT screening.
  • Re-review of LDCT scans identified previously undocumented pancreatic abnormalities in 28.6% of reviewed pancreatic cancer cases.

Conclusions

  • Lung cancer screening participants are at substantial risk for gastrointestinal cancer mortality.
  • LDCT screening holds potential for detecting pancreatic cancer, often incidentally.
  • There is a critical need to identify, document, and follow up on incidental pancreatic findings during lung cancer screening.

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