Saint Peter's Becomes First Middlesex County Hospital to Offer CT Screening for Lung Cancer

Saint Peter’s University Hospital announced (on Nov. 20) that it has become the first hospital in Middlesex County to offer low-dose CT screening for the detection and treatment of lung cancer. The program also features a multidisciplinary team of clinicians who are expert in the management of lung cancer treatment and a broad range of technical and surgical options for lung cancer patients.

Low-dose CT (computed tomography) screening enables physicians to see inside of the human body to diagnose disease at its earliest stages, increasing patients’ chances for curative treatment and long-term survival, leading “The New England Journal of Medicine” to conclude: “Low-dose CT reduces mortality from lung cancer.”

The National Cancer Institute reported that one life was saved among every 320 high-risk persons screened using low-dose CT scanning over a two-year period (three screenings), resulting in a 20 percent reduction in the lung-cancer-specific mortality rate when compared to chest X-rays.

As a result of the National Lung Screening Trial, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends that high-risk individuals undergo annual low-dose CT screening. 

The NCCN defines high-risk individuals as those who are:
- From 55 to 74 years of age
- Have a 30-pack-a-year- history of smoking

- A current smoker or one who has quit within the past 15 years
- No previous history of lung cancer.

The Saint Peter’s lung cancer program team is comprised of a patient navigator, nurse practitioner, pulmonologist, thoracic surgeon, radiation oncologist, radiologist, pathologist, and breast surgeon.

Because there has been a significant increase in lung cancer for women, mostly related to smoking, Saint Peter’s is also proud to announce collaboration with the Breast Center research trial. The study (“Low-Dose Computed Tomography (CT) Screening for Women who are at High Risk for Lung Cancer”) is aimed at evaluating women who are at high risk for developing lung cancer over their lifetime.

“Saint Peter’s strongly believes that each individual’s decision to undergo screening is best made jointly with his or her primary care physician,” said Scarlett Szymanski, director of ambulatory oncology and radiology at Saint Peter’s. “As such, we request that patients obtain an order for lung screening from their primary care physician prior to the exam.” Even so, patients may schedule a screening directly with Saint Peter’s.

Most private insurers and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services do not reimburse for low-dose CT screening. Saint Peter’s, however, charges a nominal self-pay rate of $99 per screening. Screenings may be scheduled by calling Saint Peter’s at 732-339-7747 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Smoking remains the strongest and most important preventable cause of lung cancer. Patients who undergo low-dose CT screening and are current smokers will be provided information about smoking-cessation resources that can be found in their community.