Hospitals Offering Lung Cancer CT Scans

June 29, 2011— -- Using CT scans to screen smokers for lung cancer cuts the risk of death from the disease by 20 percent, according to a new study by the National Cancer Institute published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Meanwhile, medical centers across the country currently offer lung cancer screening programs for high-risk patients and pack-a-day smokers. Below is a list of institutions that offer such services.

CALIFORNIA

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center performs lung cancer screenings and is currently developing a formal program to help patients in Southern California who have CT results showing one or more small pulmonary nodules.

CONNECTICUT

Yale University Cancer Center, New Haven, Conn.

Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven and Yale Cancer Center offer screening for people at high risk of developing lung cancer through the Thoracic Oncology Program. CT scans are read by dedicated radiologists and any suspicious areas are reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of lung cancer experts.

COLORADO

National Jewish Hospital, Denver

National Jewish offers low-dose helical CT screening to patients at high risk for lung cancer. Thus far, patients have only been seen via internal referrals and/or on a self-pay premise.

University of Colorado Hospital, Denver

University of Colorado Hospital is developing a lung cancer screening program for high-risk patients based on the NLST trial results. However, until official recommendations regarding lung cancer screening are made by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force next year, the hospital does not anticipate that insurance companies will cover lung cancer screening costs.

FLORIDA

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Fla.

Moffitt Cancer Center plans to develop a lung cancer screening program with spiral CT later this year.

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.

The Miller School of Medicine will be offering a screening program at University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

GEORGIA

Emory University Hospital, Atlanta

Emory University Hospital is offering lung cancer CT screening beginning on Aug. 1, 2011.

ILLINOIS

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago

Northwestern Memorial offers a lung cancer CT screening program for patients considered at high risk for lung cancer. The Northwestern Pulmonary Nodule Clinic provides appropriate monitoring and diagnostic intervention for individuals in whom the CT screening reveals indeterminate or suspicious lung nodule(s).

Rush University Medical Center, Chicago

Rush University Medical Center offers a lung cancer screening program.

MARYLAND

Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore

Johns Hopkins offers spiral CT lung cancer screening per the NIH/NCI guidelines. Hopkins is the only Maryland hospital that participated in the National Lung Screening Trial.

MASSACHUSSETTS

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston

Brigham and Women's Hospital's Department of Radiology offers lung cancer CT screening to eligible patients. Current or former long-term smokers over the age of 50 can speak with their doctor about the scan and eligible patients can undergo a scan with a doctor's referral.

MICHIGAN

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Mich.

The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center is developing a lung screening program for high-risk patients based on the NLST trial results.

MINNESOTA

Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital offers low-dose CT lung cancer screening to patients aged 55-74 and who have smoked at least one pack of cigarettes per day for 30 years.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic offers low dose CT in patients at high risk for lung cancer in an attempt to identify cancer at its earliest stages.

NEW YORK

Continuum Cancer Centers of New York

Continuum partners with Beth Israel Medical Center, Roosevelt Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Beth Israel currently has a screening program. Philanthropy support defrays some of the cost of the screenings for patients, as this screening is currently not covered by insurance.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center offers low-dose helical CT screening for people with no history of cancer or who have been cancer-free for five years, aged 55-74, and who have smoked at least one pack of cigarettes per day for 30 years (30 pack years).

Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York

Mount Sinai Medical Center offers low-dose CT scanning for lung cancer screening in high-risk patients. Mount Sinai's Lung Disease and Lung Cancer Treatment Programs ensure a seamless transition to the best possible care should it become necessary.

NORTH CAROLINA

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center offers lung cancer screening with low-dose spiral CT scanning. Patients who are aware and interested can call a toll-free number to set up an appointment: (877) 243-0563.

OHIO

University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center offers $99 lung cancer screenings to patients aged 55-74, who have smoked at least one pack of cigarettes per day for 30 years and to other high-risk patients.

PENNSYLVANIA

Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia

Temple University Hospital offers a lung cancer prevention (smoking cessation), annual low-dose CT screening program and nodule work-up program.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital offers lung cancer screening and a Pulmonary Nodule Clinic for patients with suspicious screening results.

TEXAS

MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston

MD Anderson Cancer Center offers lung cancer screening for smokers over the age of 50 who have smoked the equivalent of one pack of cigarettes a day for at least 20 years. Along with screening, MD Anderson offers risk assessment counseling for those who do not have lung cancer and low-cost tobacco cessation programs to help smokers quit.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.

Georgetown University Hospital offers a lung cancer screening program to patients over the age of 55 who have smoked at least one pack of cigarettes per day for 30 years. Georgetown University Hospital's comprehensive Lung Cancer Program provides the full spectrum of available and emerging radiation, chemotherapy and surgical options and support services. It uses a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment and has potential access to a variety of clinical research trials.