Opportunities and challenges for lung cancer screening in China

Abstract

China accounts for nearly half of the incidence and mortality of lung cancer in the world. Furthermore, trends in lung cancer in China are increasing younger in age and the situation is deteriorating. As a whole although screening for early lung cancer may cause a small fraction of overdiagnosis and anxiety of the population, screening for lung cancer can significantly reduce the mortality of the leading malignant disease. Large scale screening usually faces the diameters of small pulmonary nodules less than 10 millimeters of which the malignant feature can’t be directly judged. Follow up the status of these suspicious small nodules and select and the ideal treatment model. China must take measures to avoid lagging behind developed courtiers in combating with this malignant disease which is deteriorating.