Los resultados de una investigación publicada en el último número de "JAMA" concluyen que, si bien el cribado mediante tomografía axial computerizada (TAC) ayudan a detectar más casos de cáncer de pulmón, ello no conduce a una reducción significativa de la mortalidad por este tipo de tumor y, por lo tanto, son necesarios más estudios para determinar si este método de imagen debería emplearse como práctica de cribado habitual.
Investigadores del Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center de Nueva York son los firmantes de este estudio, en el que se evaluó a 3.246 fumadores y ex fumadores sometidos a cribado de cáncer pulmonar anualmente desde 1998. Ninguno presentaba síntomas al inicio de la investigación y el seguimiento medio fue de 3,9 años.
La TAC aumentó la detección del cáncer, pero no dio lugar a una reducción de la mortalidad por esta causa. Por ello, consideran que el uso extendido de TAC para el cribado del cáncer pulmonar no es coste-efectivo.
JAMA 2007;297:953-961
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