Development of radiation epidemiological efficiency criteria for ct-based lung cancer screening program for russian population

Radiation epidemiological approach to assess efficiency of CT-based lung cancer screening program for Russian population is considered in the article. The number of years of healthy life lost in future due to the lung cancer and multiple CT scans was calculated with ICRP 103 and UNSCEAR 2006 risk models and national data on cancer incidence in Russia. We have found that lung cancer screening with low-dose CT in women of any ages free of additional risk factors of lung cancer does not make any sense, because the harm from radiation exceeds the benefit of the screening or the harm and benefit are commensurable. On the other hand, the benefit from СT scans prevails the harm or benfit and harm are comparable in men older than 50 years. If men are involved in the lung cancer screening program at younger ages the benefit of the screening prevails the harm until their age of 70-75 years, in older ages cumulative radiation associated harm exceeds expected benefit of CT scans performed at early ages. Results of the study can be of high priority for making managerial decisions on optimization of preventive measures towards lowering cancer mortality in Russia with account of financial and economical restraints.