QUANTITATIVE IMAGING WORKSHOP

Quantitative Imaging Workshop XVI:

Lung Cancer, COPD and Cardiovascular Disease—On the Cusp of Transformation

The 16th Quantitative Imaging Workshop, held October 10-11, 2019, explored how a revolution in biomedical imaging, which enables radiologists to detect the pathological process earlier than ever before, can be used to improve outcomes in managing early lung cancer. The goal was to introduce robust approaches to allow quantitative assessment of the growth of pulmonary nodules, as this is a sensitive and specific way to find early lung cancers.

KEY ISSUES:

Attendees discussed how often lung cancer screenings also produced findings consistent with COPD. There is a great need to determine the best approach to screening for early lung cancer, COPD and coronary calcification with the same image. This combined approach can greatly enhance the cost-effectiveness of screening.

LEADERSHIP AWARD:

Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., accepted the James L. Mulshine, M.D., National Leadership Award in recognition of his foresight and leadership in securing funding and implementing the National Lung Screening Trial, which validated the lifesaving value of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) over standard chest X-ray.

RESULTS:

An article summarizing the Workshop was published in Translational Medicine Communications in October 2020.