I have had my second (or 3rd, 4th etc.) annual CT scan. What can I expect?
Positive tests on annual repeat CT scan have a much lower false positive incidence.
Only about 5% (1 in 20) have a positive test at annual-repeat CT screening.
Because tumors that were not seen one year earlier are now visible, it means that they are growing rapidly. For this reason the criterion for a positive test includes new nodules smaller than 6 mm.
Despite the fact that more, rapidly-growing cancers are detected, cure rates for tumor detected during annual repeat CT screening are identical, about 80%,
because these tumors are found at smaller size.
For the 95% with no new nodules, only a repeat CT scan in 12 months is indicated.
If you had a small nodule or a non-solid nodule on the prior CT scan, the report will note if there has been increase in size of the nodule or development or growth of a solid component in a non-solid nodule. In such circumstances, consideration of PET scan or needle biopsy may be recommended.
Centers that use the LungRADs system of reporting use a different report structure, but recommendations are largely the same.