Out-patient lung cancer screening available in R.I.

EAST PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island Medical Imaging announced on June 23 that it is now offering the first comprehensive out-patient lung cancer screening program available in the state of Rhode Island.
Highly publicized results from the National Lung Screening Trial indicate that lung cancer screenings can detect lung cancers with computed tomography (CT) early enough to reduce lung cancer death rates by about 20 percent, according to the company officials.
Prior to this recent clinical trial, many lung cancers were diagnosed at a later stage with the use of X-ray technology. The low dose radiation technology behind CT scans is sufficiently sensitive in order to detect small tumors. Current and former smokers can now be screened at any of Rhode Island Medical Imaging’s five locations for early detection of lung cancer.
“We are pleased to be able to offer this program to high risk patients of Rhode Island with the convenience of an out-patient setting,” said Dr. Terrance Healey, the director of Rhode Island Medical Imaging’s lung cancer screening program. “Once a patient comes to us for a screening, we are also able to offer him or her many resources on how to quit smoking, in addition to the diagnostic evaluation and risk assessment.”