JAMA: 2007-03-07, Vol. 297, No. 9, Author in the Room Audio Interview

Interview with Peter B. Bach, MD, author of Computed Tomography Screening and Lung Cancer Outcomes. Summary Points: 1. Screening and other prevention approaches involve subjecting very large numbers of people to an intervention, with the expectation that a few will benefit, but most will not (as they would have never developed the condition anyway). 2. In general, screening for diseases such as cancer will uncover some reservoir of abnormalities that appear to be precursors to clinical disease but are not yet causing disease. 3. We really have no evidence to support screening for lung cancer right now with any technology. 4. We really should be advocating for our patients to help them understand why they shouldn't have this test until we know that it is more likely to hurt them or help them.