Diagnosis plays a critical role in lung cancer due to several key reasons. Early detection improves treatment outcomes and the chances of survival. Lung cancer often progresses silently in its early stages, with symptoms becoming noticeable only in advanced stages. Then treatment options are limited. Secondly, identifying the type and stage of lung cancer is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment plan. Thirdly, diagnosis allows healthcare professionals to monitor the progression of the disease and adjust treatment accordingly. Here, we discuss if chest X-rays for lung cancer detection are good.
Should doctors use chest X-rays for lung cancer detection?
The primary diagnosis technique for the detection of lung cancer remains chest X-rays. However, this investigation is inconclusive in diagnosing lung cancer. Doctors require more advanced techniques to diagnose the stages of lung cancer.
Studies report cases where the X-rays are normal, but the patient has lung cancer. Chest X-rays (CXR) do not diagnose around a fifth of lung cancer cases. Moreover, X-rays may show vague shadows or grey areas. Such abnormalities may indicate an infection. Thus, patients will have to go again for a radiologic investigation to confirm if it is lung cancer.
Additionally, some studies have estimated the sensitivity of the CXR. Scientists show that in patients showing symptoms, the sensitivity of CXR varied between 77 and 80%. This implies that doctors should try other diagnostic methods for high-risk individuals.
Despite the limitations of CXR, it is a less expensive and more feasible investigative procedure. Scientists are using artificial intelligence-based lesion detection software in CXR. It shows benefits in detecting first-stage lung cancer in X-rays.
What are the imaging techniques other than chest X-rays for lung cancer detection?
Doctors recommend other imaging procedures to diagnose lung cancer. These include computed tomography (CT) scanning and positron emission tomography (PET) scanning.
A CT scan is a type of imaging method used to examine a specific part of the body in detail. During a CT scan, technicians utilize X-rays to capture images. The scan captures images of bones, organs, or soft tissues from various angles. By combining these individual images, a complete cross-section of the body part is formed. The procedure typically takes between 10 and 30 minutes to complete and is painless.
The CT scan can detect the tumour’s size and extent at the primary site. It can also diagnose the spread of cancer near the lungs. However, it cannot explain the expansion in lymph nodes. In PET scanning, the technician either gives a radioactive tracer to the patient via mouth or injection. In lung cancer detection, technicians use radioactive sugar (fluorodeoxyglucose). The concept is that cancerous cells take up more sugar and get highlighted. A PET scan is useful for detecting cancer invasion from the lungs in the body. Nowadays, doctors use both PET and CT scanning together to get a better understanding of cancer staging.
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