Opportunistic Findings on Lung Cancer Screening CT: Beyond Nodules

About one-third of lung screening CTs reveal non-cancer abnormalities. Radiologists can use this practical guide to report and manage opportunistic findings—emphysema, coronary calcium, bone density, abdominal lesions—adding substantial preventive value.

• Use the Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System "S" modifier to flag non-lung cancer findings.
• Key thoracic opportunistic findings include emphysema, interstitial lung abnormalities, coronary artery calcification, thoracic aortic aneurysm, and pulmonary artery enlargement.
• Emerging AI tools can automate assessment of these findings, enabling scalable opportunistic screening.

Automated summary

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