The annual rate of Stage I lung cancer increased by an average of 8.4% and was accompanied by an average decline of 6.6.% in Stage IV disease. By 2018, these changes in incidence resulted in a higher rate of Stage I compared to Stage IV cancers. This migration to early-stage disease with no change in the overall incidence of lung cancer suggests that implementation of screening was achieving the desired effect of identifying early-stage lung cancers that were destined to progress to more advanced stages of disease, and without resulting in a significant rate of overdiagnosis

“Implementation of lung cancer screening at four diverse healthcare systems has resulted in a favorable shift to a higher incidence of Stage I cancer with an associated decline in Stage IV disease” Dr. Vachani said, “Overall lung cancer incidence did not increase, suggesting a limited impact of over-diagnosis.”

About the IASLC:
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes more than 7,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies.

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