CHICAGO — Chicago researchers are seeking current and former smokers for a study on early detection of lung cancer.
Participants have to be at least 50 years old for the study at Rush University Medical Center. It’s one of 48 medical centers in nine countries involved in the research.
The goal is to see if a type of CT scan can detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, and whether that improves survival. Critics argue that such testing may not affect survival, and can lead to false positives and unneeded medical procedures.
One of the study’s goals is to refine screening to minimize unnecessary biopsies.
Study patients with abnormal results will get follow-up care. Those with normal scans will be asked to do annual repeat screenings.
