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Lung Screen­ing

Lung Cancer Screening with Low-Dose CT Now Available

Onslow Memorial is now home to low-dose CT screenings; an amazing new technology in lung cancer screenings. Lung cancer screenings with low-dose CT have a greater chance of saving the lives of those at high risk than any other screening, because they are especially effective in diagnosing lung cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage.

Lung cancer screenings with low-dose CT deliver a more detailed and accurate detection of lung cancer and have also been named the most successful screening tool in detecting lung cancer.

These painless and noninvasive screenings use a 30% reduction in radiation dose, and can also show early-stage lung cancers that would be too small to detect through traditional x-ray technology.

We are proudly an American College of Radiology designated Lung Cancer Screening Center, certifying us as a top quality provider of safe, effective diagnostic imaging for individuals at high-risk for lung cancer.

Patients must meet certain eligibility requirements and physician referrals are required for low-dose CT screenings—consult your primary care doctor to learn more about the risks and benefits of the screening and to see if you are eligible.

The addition of this life-saving technology is just one more way Onslow Memorial Hospital is going above and beyond in providing quality care to the community.

Click here for more information about Lung Cancer rates in North Carolina and resources to help you or a loved one go smoke-free.

There is no special preparation for a low-dose CT screening—in fact, these screenings often take less than ten minutes, use a reduced dose of radiation, and are painless and noninvasive.

During your low-dose CT lung cancer screening, you will be asked to lie still and hold your breath (this will not last more than a few seconds). The screening machine does not touch you, but you may notice a thin beam of x-ray light on your body during the scan. Once your screening is complete, you are free to leave, and do not need to wait for the results. The new low-dose CT screening works by combining special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple cross-sectional images of the inside of the body.

Unlike other CTs, once your screening is complete, there will be no remaining radiation within your body.

Candidates for low-dose CT screenings must meet the following criteria:

  • Be aged 55 to 77 years old
  • Have no current signs or symptoms of lung cancer (asymptomatic)
  • Have a tobacco smoking history of at least 30 pack years
    • (One pack-year=smoking one pack per day for one year; 1 pack=20 cigarettes)
  • Currently smoke or have quit smoking within the last 15 years
  • Have a written order for a lung cancer screening with low-dose CT that meets certain criteria outlined by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

If you are at high risk for lung cancer, or are looking for more information, contact your primary care physician to see if you are eligible for a low-dose CT scan.

Onslow Memorial is a great local resource for lung cancer detection and other pulmonary diseases, and you can feel confident referring patients to OMH knowing we are dedicated to providing patients the best in care and life-saving technology.

We believe this new low-dose technology will empower and equip you with the accurate information necessary to provide more positive outcomes for the patients in your care.

To learn more about the necessary criteria for a written order for LDCT lung cancer screening outlined by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, click here.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a physician, please call (910) 577-4968 or visit the Onslow Pulmonology Associates website.