2026 IASLC CT Screening and Early Detection Symposium-WS02.14

Pdf Summary

The document presents Dr. Ella A. Kazerooni’s discussion of how lung cancer screening CT scans can provide benefits beyond cancer detection, especially by identifying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema.<br /><br />COPD is described as a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing problems, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Common symptoms include dyspnea, cough, wheezing, reduced activity, and weight loss. Major risk factors include smoking, environmental and occupational exposures, outdoor and indoor air pollution, second-hand smoke, and genetic causes such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.<br /><br />The presentation emphasizes the role of CT imaging in detecting and quantifying emphysema, particularly centrilobular emphysema, which is often smoking-related and more prominent in the upper lungs. Quantitative CT tools can measure the extent of emphysema, often using a threshold of -950 HU. CT is described as a “window” into overall health and may support smoking cessation efforts in lung cancer screening programs.<br /><br />Beyond emphysema, CT can also assess other COPD features such as small airway wall thickening and mucus plugging. Mucus plugging is increasingly recognized as clinically important, and multiple plugged airways may be associated with increased mortality even in early-stage COPD. The document suggests that targeted treatments to reduce mucus plugs could improve outcomes.<br /><br />Finally, it addresses how COPD screening might be integrated into lung cancer screening through symptom questionnaires, handheld spirometry, and CT findings. However, it notes an important limitation: there is currently no evidence to support treatment based on CT findings alone if pulmonary function tests are normal in asymptomatic individuals.

Asset Subtitle

Ella Kazerooni

Meta Tag

Concept COPD

Concept Emphysema

Concept Cigarette Smoking

Concept Computed Tomography

Concept Centrilobular Emphysema

Speaker Ella Kazerooni

Keywords

lung cancer screening

CT scans

COPD

emphysema

quantitative CT

centrilobular emphysema

mucus plugging

smoking cessation

spirometry

pulmonary function tests

COPD

Emphysema

Cigarette Smoking

Computed Tomography

Centrilobular Emphysema

Ella Kazerooni