Annual low-dose computed tomography cuts more lung cancer deaths than chest radiography among high-risk patients, according to early, as-yet unpublished findings from the National Lung Screening Trial released by the National Cancer Institute.

More than 53,000 current or former heavy smokers (aged 55 to 74) without signs or symptoms of lung cancer were randomized to undergo low-dose CT or chest radiography at baseline and then annually for 2 years. During follow-up, lung cancer mortality was 20% lower with CT than with radiography. (Based on this finding, the trial’s data and safety monitoring board recommended stopping the study.)

The NCI’s Dr. Christine Berg said: “This is the first time that we have seen clear evidence of a significant reduction in lung cancer mortality with a screening test in a randomized controlled trial. The fact that low-dose helical CT provides a decided benefit is a result that will have implications for the screening and management of lung cancer for many years to come.”