ERS/ESTS/ESTRO/ESR/ESTI/EFOMP Statement on Management of Incidental Findings from Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT is being introduced in several European countries. The management of incidental findings, both pulmonary and extrapulmonary, is an important component of the clinical and cost effectiveness of screening programs. A multi-society European group was convened to discuss the issue. Of twenty-three topics identified, the nine that were considered to be the most important and frequent were reviewed as standalone topics. These included interstitial lung abnormalities, emphysema, bronchiectasis, consolidation, coronary calcification, aortic valve disease, mediastinal mass, mediastinal lymph nodes and thyroid abnormalities. The remainder were grouped in generic categories. Following the group’s recommendations will ensure an evidence-based approach is used and that harms are minimized.