The American College of Radiology (ACR) has made available its Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS) to providers worldwide. The tool is intended to standardize lung cancer screening CT reporting and results interpretation and enable improved outcome monitoring.
The release follows the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation that adults aged 55 to 80 years with a 30 pack-year smoking history receive low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer if they currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years. The Affordable Care Act requires private insurers to cover the procedure without a copay for eligible patients.
“With the USPSTF recommendation and new private insurer coverage of these exams, CT lung cancer screening programs are underway across the country. The new Lung-RADS is a standardized guide for CT lung cancer imaging reporting and auditing. It is designed for everyday practice and will help providers issue clear CT lung cancer imaging reports, meaningfully evaluate their performance and improve their clinical practice,” said Ella Kazerooni, MD, chair of the ACR Committee on lung cancer screening.
A longer version of Lung-RADS, including a lexicon and atlas with standardized terminology and report organization, will appear in the coming months.
For more information, visit the ACR.
