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Lung Cancer Screening Program

Early detection and treatment of lung cancer could significantly decrease mortality rates.

Patients who are at high risk for lung cancer can take advantage of a new program in North Texas to screen and diagnose lung cancer before symptoms develop through use of a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death – more than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined. A study conducted by the National Cancer Institute proved that screening people at high risk of lung cancer with low-dose CT scans reduced mortality from lung cancer by 20 percent. This study estimates that early detection and treatment of lung cancer could save more than 70,000 lives a year.

Benefits

Benefits to your patients include:

  • Simple, low-dose CT scan of the lungs
  • Once the patient is on the table, the scan takes less than 5 minutes
  • Radiologist on the medical staff reviews the scan and looks for signs of nodules that might indicate cancer

Eligibility

For Medicare to cover this screening, annually patients should:

  • Be 55-77 years old
  • Have a cigarette-smoking history of at least 30 "pack years" (i.e.: 1.5 packs/day x 20 smoking years = 30 pack years)
  • Be a current smoker or stopped smoking within the last 15 years
  • Have no symptoms

The fee for a lung CT will be filed on the patient's insurance plan. The fee does not include the radiologist interpretation.

Refer a Patient

A physician referral is required for the lung cancer screening program. To refer your patient, call:

844.74BSWMD (27963)

Imaging and Radiology at Baylor Scott & White Health

We use the latest technology and techniques to provide radiologic exams and treatments in every imaging discipline.

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