Lung Cancer
Researchers are working on developing effective methods to screen for lung cancer. Currently, however, there is no generally accepted screening test for lung cancer. Several lung cancer screening methods being studied include tests of sputum (mucus brought up from the lungs by coughing), chest x-rays, and spiral (helical) CT scans.
On this page:
Lung Cancer Screening Summary
- Lung Cancer Screening (PDQ®)
[ patient ] 1 [ health professional ] 2
Expert-reviewed information summary about tests used to detect or screen for lung cancer.
Clinical Trials to Screen for Lung Cancer
The list below shows clinical trials for lung cancer screening in NCI’s list of cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling participants. The list of clinical trials can be refined by location and other features.
Research About Lung Cancer Screening
- Lung Cancer Trial Results Show Mortality Benefit with Computed Tomography (CT) 5
Results from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), a test of screening methods (spiral CT and chest X-ray) to reduce deaths from lung cancer by detecting cancers at relatively early stages. - National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) 6
A collection of material about the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), a research study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute that used low-dose helical CT scans or chest X-ray to screen men and women at risk for lung cancer. - Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial 7
A large-scale clinical trial to determine whether certain cancer screening tests reduce deaths from prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer. In addition, there are numerous epidemiologic and ancillary studies going on that will answer other crucial questions about these cancers and these screening tests.