• Jan M Eberth, Rebecca Qiu, Suzanne K Linder, Nancy R Gallant, and Reginald F Munden.
• *Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health †Cancer Prevention and Control Program ‡College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC §Sealy Center on Aging, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston ∥Department of Radiology, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX.
• J Thorac Imaging. 2014 Sep 1;29(5):289-92.

PurposeThis study aimed to determine the availability, attributes, and hindrances of current and developing US lung cancer screening programs.Materials And MethodsAn electronic questionnaire was sent to the membership of the Society of Thoracic Radiology in August 2013 and remained open for 4 weeks. Of the 225 US-based members, we received 140 responses representing 82 unique health care institutions. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the responding health care institutions' LDCT screening availability and components.ResultsA majority of responding institutions reported having an active LDCT screening program (65.9%). Of the responding institutions without an active program, 89.3% reported they were considering having an LDCT screening program in the future, and 35.7% (n=10) indicated the developing status of screening recommendations as a motivating factor in not offering a screening program. Forty-four percent of participating LDCT screening centers reported that their services were self-pay only, and nearly half charged a rate of $200 to $500 for screening.ConclusionsIn our sample, we found that a majority of respondents were engaged in LDCT screening programs. Growth of such programs is expected in the coming years. Finalizing screening guidelines and insurance reimbursement will likely remove barriers that inhibit further growth of LDCT lung cancer screening programs.

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