Universality of United States guidelines for lung cancer screening

Are United States guidelines for lung cancer screening universal? Can they be applied to the Polish population?

Julian Dobranowski: The National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) was a United States-based study, but the results are universal, basically. If we look at the recommendations that have come because of that trial, they are numerous, and various jurisdictions have adopted the results from that study.

Having said that, since the original publication in 2011, a lot of new data have come forward too. It is very important that if you are looking at a screening program that is organized, that you have ability to assess the most current literature available so that you can structure that program appropriately.

In terms of Poland, Poland has a high smoking rate too, so the problem is very relevant. You have a high mortality rate, it is very relevant too. So yes, the answer is, it is quite applicable for the setting here in Poland.