Computed Tomographic Screening for Lung Cancer: Here Come the European Trials

The U.S. National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) was the first randomized trial to show an effect of computed tomography (CT) screening on lung cancer mortality: At 6.5 years, 1 fewer lung cancer–specific death occurred per 320 smokers screened (NEJM JW Gen Med Aug 1 2011 and N Engl J Med 2011; 365:395). Now, results of another screening study — the DANTE trial, from Italy — have been published. DANTE included about 2500 men (age range, 60–74) with smoking histories of ≥20 pack-years; all were current smokers or had quit within 10 years. Participants were randomized to five rounds of annual low-dose CT screening or to no screening.

During median follow-up of 8.4 years, 104 screened patients and 72 controls were diagnosed with lung cancer. Lung …