Early detection of lung cancer – a radiological challenge
Diagnostic RadiologyEvery year there are around 54,000 deaths in Germany (approx. 54 % men, 46 % women) from bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer). This makes bronchial carcinoma the cancer with the highest number of deaths.
Smokers are around 15 times more at risk than non-smokers. Exposure to asbestos is the second greatest risk factor. Early detection measures result in a better chance of survival. The Anti-Lung Cancer Association Project (ALCA) showed that computed tomography is able to detect most primary cancers at a screening examination in an early phase.
This can improve the 5-year survival rate from below 15% to a maximum of 80%.
Early stage of bronchial carcinoma in CT
Late stage of bronchial carcinoma in CT
Technique
Computed tomography is performed in approx. four seconds with a low radiation dose. The radiation exposure is roughly equivalent to a normal X-ray of the lung in two planes.
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