The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a revised recommendation statement on screening for lung cancer on March 9th, 2021. ^[1] US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for lung cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;325(10):962-70. The new recommendation expanded the age range and lowered the smoking history threshold to qualify for lung cancer screening. The criteria now include a minimum of age of 50 years old (previously 55) and a 20 pack-year history of smoking (previously 30 pack-years).

The new recommendation expands the population of patients for whom lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography may be beneficial. The USPSTF noted that the recommendation is based on moderate certainty that annual screening for lung cancer with LDCT has a moderate net benefit in persons at high risk of lung cancer. Consistent with their previous recommendation, the USPSTF indicates that screening should be discontinued once a person has not smoked for 15 years or develops a health problem that substantially limits life expectancy or the ability or willingness to have curative lung surgery.

The team at Carelon has reviewed the USPSTF recommendation and will be updating the guidelines soon to address the expanded recommendation.