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Background: Delivering effective tobacco dependence treatment that is feasible within lung cancer screening (LCS) programs is crucial for realizing the health benefits and cost savings of screening. Large-scale trials and systematic reviews have demonstrated that digital cessation interventions (i.e. web-based and text message) are effective, sustainable over the long-term, scalable, and cost-efficient. Use of digital technologies is commonplace among older adults, making this a feasible approach within LCS programs. Use of cessation treatment has been improved with models that proactively connect smokers to treatment rather than passive referrals. Proactive referral to cessation treatment has been advanced through healthcare systems changes such as modifying the electronic health record to automatically link smokers to treatment.Methods: This study evaluates the impact of a proactive enrollment strategy that links LCS-eligible smokers with an evidence-based intervention comprised of a web-based (WEB) program and integrated text messaging (TXT) in a three-arm randomized trial with repeated measures at one, three, six, and 12 months post randomization. The primary outcome is biochemically confirmed abstinence at 12 months post randomization. We will randomize 1650 smokers who present for a clinical LCS to: (1) a usual care control condition (UC) which consists of Ask-Advise-Refer; (2) a digital (WEB + TXT) cessation intervention; or (3) a digital cessation intervention combined with tobacco treatment specialist (TTS) counseling (WEB + TXT + TTS).Discussion: The scalability and sustainability of a digital intervention may represent the most cost-effective and feasible approach for LCS programs to proactively engage large numbers of smokers in effective cessation treatment. We will also evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of adding proven clinical intervention provided by a TTS. We expect that a combined digital/clinical intervention will yield higher quit rates than digital alone, but that it may not be as cost-effective or feasible for LCS programs to implement. This study is innovative in its use of interoperable, digital technologies to deliver a sustainable, scalable, high-impact cessation intervention and to facilitate its integration within clinical practice. It will add to the growing knowledge base about the overall effectiveness of digital interventions and their role in the healthcare delivery system.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03084835 . Registered on 9 March 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which aims to develop a method for the evaluation of patients with pulmonary nodules. Researchers developed an evidence-based clinical practice guidelines based on a systematic literature review and discussion. Results reveal the significance of risk factor assessment, the utility of imaging tests, and the need to weigh the risks. Such findings suggest that patients with pulmonary nodules should be evaluated by estimation of the probability of malignancy.

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in North America. Currently, screening for lung cancer is not recommended. Therefore, patients will not receive a diagnosis until they present with symptomatic disease, which is usually advanced stage disease. Previous trials of screening with chest roentgenograms and sputum cytology have failed to show a decrease in lung cancer mortality. Some reports of screening with low-dose spiral CT scans have detected lung cancers at a smaller size (average size, 1.5 cm) than those usually detected by chest radiographs (mean size, 3.0 cm). Spiral CT scanning has been shown to detect between 58% and 85% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) while they are in stage IA, and this compares favorably to the current medical practice, in which only 15% are detected as localized disease (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results study data). This article summarizes the spiral CT screening data, and reviews some of the data related to screening with sputum cytology, sputum methylation, and autofluorescence bronchoscopy. Last, there is a brief discussion of some promising future strategies, with emphasis and data from studies presented at this Aspen Lung Conference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various reports published within the issue including one by Carol J. Etzel and Peter B. Bach on risk prediction models that can be utilized to identify persons at highest risk who may benefit from screening methods, one by Ping Yang on lung cancer in non-smokers, and another by William D. Travis and Natasha Rekhtman on pathology.

The author reflects on the report on lung cancer screening by the International Early Lung Cancer Action Project (IELCAP) group published in "The New England Journal of Medicine." According to the author, observational studies such as the IELCAP can provide important information but cannot prove efficacy of screening through mortality reduction. He said that the improved survival reported by the IELCAP group may simply be a reflection of bias from screening.