Who should be screened for lung cancer according to recommended guidelines?

The recommended guidelines for lung cancer screening, particularly those established by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), emphasize the importance of screening high-risk individuals. The criteria focus on the age and intensity of smoking history.

Individuals who are aged 55 to 80 years old and have a significant smoking history—defined as a 30 pack-year history—are advised to undergo annual low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer. This screening is aimed at detecting lung cancer at an earlier stage when treatment can be more effective. A "pack-year" is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked. Therefore, someone who has smoked one pack a day for 30 years would have a 30 pack-year smoking history.

The other choices do not align with the recommended screening guidelines. While individuals aged 60 with a smoking history may be at risk, the absence of specific pack-year criteria disqualifies them. Likewise, individuals aged 50 with no risk factors or those aged 65 who have never smoked do not meet the established high-risk criteria, as their age or lack of significant smoking history does not support the need for screening per the guidelines.