Spiral CT for lung cancer screening: is it ready for prime time?

Low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) shows promise as a screening test for lung cancer, as it detects many more malignant pulmonary nodules than does standard plain radiography of the chest. Yet until more data are available we need to temper our enthusiasm. No studies have yet determined if using low-dose spiral CT as a screening test will lead to lower mortality rates. This paper reviews the issue of lung cancer screening and low-dose spiral CT.