UVA expert helps develop new lung cancer screening guidelines for high-risk patients

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Mar 30 2021

Through his role on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, UVA Health's Li Li, MD, PhD, MPH, has helped develop new lung cancer screening guidelines that expand screenings to more high-risk patients.

The new guidelines are focused on Americans at higher risk because of their history of smoking, which is the leading cause of lung cancer. There are two significant changes in the new guidelines. For those who are still smoking or quit less than 15 years ago, a yearly screening using a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan is now recommended:

• beginning at age 50, instead of age 55.
• for anyone who has smoked 20 pack-years in their lifetime, instead of 30 pack-years. A pack-year equals smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for a year.

The new guidelines came following a review of the latest evidence of the benefits of lung cancer screening by Li and his colleagues on the Task Force, an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. That evidence showed expanding the criteria would open screenings to more Black people and women, who data shows tend to smoke fewer cigarettes than white men.

The new guidelines will have a tremendous impact on primary and secondary prevention of this dreadful cancer. It is a big step forward in reducing lung cancer disparities in Black people and women."

Li Li, MD, PhD, MPH, UVA Health

Screenings are recommended for Americans ages 50 to 80 who meet the 20 pack-year criteria and are still smoking or quit less than 15 years ago. The Task Force recommends that current and former smokers who meet the updated criteria should discuss lung cancer screening with their doctor to determine whether the screening is right for them.

"Increasing the awareness and uptake of lung cancer screening, together with effective smoking cessation programs, are pressing priorities for UVA Health in its concerted effort to improve the health of residents in our region," Li said.