When should lung cancer screening start for high-risk populations?

Lung cancer screening for high-risk populations is recommended to start at age 50 or 55, depending on individual risk factors and smoking history. This is based on the guidelines provided by organizations such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which identify high-risk individuals as those aged 50-80 years who have a significant smoking history, typically defined as a 20 pack-year history or more, and either currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

Starting screening at this age acknowledges that lung cancer often presents later in life and helps to identify the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage in individuals who are more likely to develop it based on their smoking history and additional risk factors, such as family history or exposure to carcinogens. The specific age of 50 or 55 accounts for the increased risk associated with both age and cumulative lifetime exposure to tobacco smoke.

Screening before age 50 may not yield a sufficient balance of benefits to harms, and starting screening later at age 60 does not take into account the effectiveness of earlier intervention. Thus, the recommendation seeks to optimize early detection while minimizing unnecessary procedures and anxiety for those at lower risk.