By Thomas H. Maugh II
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES – Advanced CT imaging can reduce deaths from lung cancer by 20 percent among heavy smokers, according to long-awaited results from the first comparison of CT scanning and regular chest X-rays, researchers said Thursday.
The results of the study among more than 53,000 former and current heavy smokers were so conclusive that the study was terminated prematurely last week and letters were sent to all the participants advising them of the results.
The findings are considered to be a major step forward in fighting lung cancer, which is expected to kill an estimated 157,000 Americans this year, because chest X-rays have never been shown to be an effective tool for identifying tumors.