Between October 18–21, this website will move to a new web address (from health.gov to odphp.health.gov). During that time, some functions might not work as expected. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we’re working to make this transition as smooth as possible.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Lung Cancer: Screening

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Last Reviewed: March 2021

Workgroups: Cancer Workgroup, Tobacco Use Workgroup

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography in people who meet all of these criteria: 

  • Are ages 50 to 80 years 
  • Have a 20 pack-year smoking history
  • Currently smoke cigarettes or quit within the past 15 years

USPSTF also recommends ending screening for people in this group who develop a health problem that seriously limits their life expectancy or who aren’t willing to have lung surgery if needed. 

Read more about this resource

Objectives related to this resource (3)

Reduce the lung cancer death rate — C‑02
Improving
Increase the proportion of adults who get screened for lung cancer — C‑03
Baseline only
Increase the proportion of adults who get recommended evidence-based preventive health care — AHS‑08
Getting worse

Suggested Citation

1.

U.S. Preventive Task Force. (2021). Lung cancer: screening. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening