Imaging groups urge USPSTF to remove ‘arbitrary’ cutoffs, expand lung cancer screening eligibility

USPSTF published its draft statement early last month, noting the new guidelines would help spot cancer in women and African Americans. Both groups tend to smoke less than white men, with Black individuals shown to face a higher risk of lung cancer.

The ACR came out in strong support of the changes, but urged for a broader quit-smoking requirement, from 15 to 20 years.

In its Aug. 3 letter, the group representing some 40,000 professionals reiterated this stance.

“The ACR urges the USPSTF to include real-world evidence, Post Market Surveillance data, as well as other well-designed research approaches as to refine their recommendation,” CEO of the ACR, William T. Thorwarth, Jr., MD, wrote in the letter. “Doing so would improve health and racial equity of low dose CT screening across disparate populations including the underserved, African Americans, and minorities, as well as women.”