Oncologist debunks the myth of protection against cancer using annual fluorography
Oncologist Andrei Nefedov explained why fluorography is ineffective for early diagnosis of lung cancer
Quick Look
- Oncologist Andrei Nefedov said that annual fluorography does not protect against cancer and misses tumors in the early stages.
- He called low-dose computed tomography the only proven method of early diagnosis.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Fluorography is often used as a widespread method of examining the lungs, but its diagnostic capabilities are limited compared to computed tomography.
Andrey Nefedov, an oncologist of the highest category, head of the department of thoracic oncology at the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Physics, dispelled the myth of protection against cancer with the help of annual fluorography. He spoke about why the traditional method does not work as a screening tool and what examination can save lives in a conversation with Lenta.ru.
According to Nefedov, fluorography often misses neoplasms in the early stages. “The reason is that X-ray film visualizes the tumor too late - at those stages when it is already extremely difficult to radically help a person,” he explained. The specialist added that the only scientifically proven method for early diagnosis of lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (LDCT).
The doctor primarily included smokers with 20 pack-years of experience in the main risk group for lung cancer, that is, those who smoked one pack a day for 20 years or more. He also recalled that the best protection against this type of cancer is a complete cessation of smoking: both regular and electronic cigarettes and vapes. He emphasized that it is never too late to quit smoking.
Open Questions
- What is the availability of NDCT for the population in the regions?
- Is NDCT included in the compulsory medical insurance program?
