Ashley E. Prosper, MD, discusses how radiologists are positioned to make sure the benefits of lung cancer screening are realized broadly and with dignity.
Ashley E. Prosper, MD, discusses how radiologists are positioned to make sure the benefits of lung cancer screening are realized broadly and with dignity.
Interview by Abby Faulkner, digital media strategist, JACR®
Fourteen years beyond the publication of the National Lung Screening Trial, 12 years after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s recommendation for lung cancer screening and 11 years into coverage by CMS, lung cancer screening is still rapidly evolving. Efforts are ongoing to improve public awareness, increase uptake and access for those who are eligible and make screening more efficient for those who participate.
The articles featured in the JACR’s December Special Issue on Lung Cancer Screening cover a broad spectrum of topics aiming to investigate ways in which screening is succeeding, and areas in which there is still room for improvement. Readers will benefit from a variety of manuscript types, including original research, systematic reviews and opinion pieces.
The JACR spoke with Ashley E. Prosper, MD, who guest-edited the special issue with Lisa Carter-Bawa PhD, MPH, and Julie Barta, MD, about the status of lung cancer screening today and what readers can expect to learn as they read the collection of articles.
The special issue is strengthened by a variety of voices including not only radiologists, but a host of multidisciplinary colleagues involved in lung cancer early detection. The issue highlights advancements, challenges and opportunities in lung cancer screening. The articles examine ways in which we identify individuals who are eligible for screening, means of increasing lung cancer screening uptake, the mitigation of potential harm and opportunities to magnify the positive impact of screening (improving interoperability and AI integration to name a few).
Lung cancer screening, when compared to other cancer screening tests, is relatively new. It has taken time, but today, we have the benefit of publications from real-world screening programs, streamlined multidisciplinary approaches to screening and the support of organizations such as the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (who collaborated with us on this special issue) to amplify the voices of researchers, clinical program leaders and patient advocates. These developments, accompanied by coverage in the lay press, are contributing to growth in public awareness of the impact of lung cancer (the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S.) and the importance of early lung cancer detection.
The American Lung Association’s 2025 State of Lung Cancer report estimates that 18.2% of eligible Americans are being screened.
Lung cancer screening is currently woefully underutilized. The American Lung Association’s 2025 State of Lung Cancer report estimates that 18.2% of eligible Americans are being screened. However, we’re making strides in increasing uptake of lung cancer screening and utilization rates are rising. As we inch closer to 100% uptake (it’s estimated that 14.5 million Americans are eligible), we must remember that acquiring the CT is just one of the many steps in performing lung cancer screening. Prior to the scan, we need to ensure that the right patients are scanned at the right time. Following the scan, the exam must be interpreted, and actionable results must be followed up. Finally, screening participants must be successfully routed back to their next annual screen. There are AI use cases at each of these steps, and our healthcare workforce needs them to succeed so that we can effectively reach all those who need our help.
We’ve made so many advancements in lung cancer early detection, but there is no shortage of opportunities to make the clinical implementation of lung cancer screening even more impactful. This special issue highlights ways in which we can continue to refine our approaches towards lung cancer screening and work across medical specialties to optimize lung cancer early detection.
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