X-ray Imaging and Lung Cancer Diagnosis: A Study Reveals Accuracy Issues
A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute highlights that X-ray imaging for lung cancer diagnosis often yields inaccurate results. However, it also plays a crucial role in detecting tumors that have formed in the early stages of development.
According to the research conducted by a team of American scientists funded by the National Cancer Institute, over 77,000 individuals aged between 55 and 77 participated in the study. The X-ray results indicated that nearly 9% were suspected of having lung cancer. Nonetheless, further examinations revealed that only 2% of those initially flagged from the X-ray results actually had cancer.
Interestingly, the research team reported that up to 44% of lung cancer cases were detected by X-ray imaging in the early stages of development. This early detection significantly increases the chances of patients surviving an additional five years.
To address the inaccuracies associated with X-ray imaging, doctors are now transitioning to using scanning machines. Although these machines are considerably more expensive, they are highly effective in diagnosing tumors at their initial stages.
Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent and deadly diseases globally. In the United States alone, approximately 172,000 people were diagnosed with the illness in 2005, with the majority expected to succumb within two years. Lung cancer often manifests after the disease has progressed and can affect non-smokers as well.
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