Lung Cancer Screening Program, UTMB Health

Lung Cancer Screening Program

Do you think you might be at risk for lung cancer? Are you a candidate for lung cancer screening?

UTMB’s Comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program (CLSP) offers lung cancer screening services in a multidisciplinary, collaborative and convenient setting. The innovative program detects lung cancer early–when it's in its most treatable form–in individuals at the highest risk for lung cancer, using low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) technology.

The groundbreaking National Lung Screening Trial clearly shows that screening with these low-dose chest scans reduces the risk of dying from lung cancer in heavy smokers by 20% compared to screening with simple chest X-rays (New England Journal of Medicine, 2011).

UTMB’s Lung Cancer Screening Program addresses the recommendations by the US Preventive Services Task Force and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): they recommend annual LDCT scans for individuals who are at high risk for lung cancer. To serve our patients efficiently and expertly, UTMB’s program features a team of radiologists, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, pathologists, medical oncologists, primary care doctors and radiation oncologists to develop a best-practice-based, patient-centered plan.

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Who Do We Screen?
The UTMB Lung Screening Program serves a specific population at high risk for lung cancer, as defined by the results of the multi-institution National Lung Screening Trial.
High-Risk Patients are:
- Current or former smokers 50-80 years of age (some insurance coverage extends screening to those up to 80 years of age);
- People who smoked the equivalent of one pack of cigarettes a day for at least 20 years.
- If a former smoker, he/she should have quit within the past 15 years.
You do not need to be a patient at UTMB Health to be screened, and you can refer yourself or be referred by a physician.
Should I Be Screened?

An online tool developed by the University of Michigan can help assess your risk and guide your decision whether to undergo Lung Cancer Screening. The tool is at shouldiscreen.com
How do I Schedule an Exam?

It would be our pleasure to assist you with lung cancer screening or answer any additional questions you may have about our clinic. The phone number for questions or scheduling is (409) 772-9572.
We may need a referral from your Primary Care Provider (PCP). If you are not a UTMB patient, complete the referral form and fax to (409) 772-9532.
If you have a UTMB primary care physician, they can refer you directly via the Electronic Health Record.
What to Expect on Your Visit

On the day of your first appointment, we will confirm that you are eligible for screening. A physician MUST document that they talked to you about the risks and benefits of Lung Cancer Screening (Called Shared-Decision Making), and if you are an active smoker, have discussed stopping smoking (Smoking Cessation).
If you are eligible, we will perform a low-dose lung CT scan, which only takes a few minutes. Your scan will be read by a UTMB Health thoracic radiologist who specializes in reading lung cancer screening CT scans. You will receive the results by hard copy, phone call and/or through the MyChart portal. The results will also be communicated to your primary care provider. Should an abnormality be found which requires further evaluation, our team of experts and experienced providers are available to assist you.
Resources to Help Quit Smoking
If you are a current smoker and would like to receive support in quitting, we encourage you to explore the following resources:
- Cessation Materials for State Tobacco Control Programs
or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)