"One of the promises of tomosynthesis is that the detection rates for nodules that are 6 millimeters and larger are very high," Kazerooni said. While it is not as effective in detecting smaller nodules, such as nodules that are 4 millimeters to 5 millimeters, these have a lower rate of being cancerous.

If the size threshold for lung cancer screening is increased to 6 millimeters or larger, Kazerooni said, "then tomosynthesis has a shot at being a viable technology for lung cancer screening."


However, she cautioned that most radiologists are not trained to read images obtained with DT technology.

"There will be a steep education curve if people want to start using tomosynthesis," Kazerooni said.

Dobbins said the study grew out of 20 years' worth of work in Duke University's labs, and was preceded by another study at Duke, released in 2008. The earlier study was funded by NIH and found that chest tomography tripled the sensitivity of lung nodules.

Scientists in Italy are also researching DT and say findings show the technology could be an alternative to CT screening. According to an article published on the International Association of Lung Cancer website, a study of 1,919 patients completed in 2012 at S. Croce City Hospital in Cuneo, Italy, found "the results on the use of DT in early detection of lung cancer are encouraging; the detection rate is comparable to the rates reported for low-dosage CT and is attained at a far lower cost and radiation dosage."

Dr. Luca Bertolaccini, consultant and thoracic surgeon at S. Croce Hospital and one of the investigators in the study, said DT could be a viable alternative to CT screening.

"We have a simple machine with a dose of radiation one-sixth that of the CT scan and a cost of one-seventh of the CT scan," Bertolaccini told DOTmed News. He added that the results would have to be confirmed in larger, multi-center trial testing.

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