Lung Cancer Screening Recommendations in the Elderly: International Society for Geriatric Oncology Consensus Statement
In brief
Geriatric assessment can identify adults over 80 for lung cancer screening
An international expert taskforce recommends assessing adults over 80 who meet screening criteria for functional status and age-related vulnerabilities, rather than excluding them based on age alone. Those judged robust should discuss screening in light of their priorities, with reassessment every 2 years; whether this approach improves outcomes remains to be established.
- Journal
- JTO clinical and research reports (Q1)
- Published
- 24 July 2026
- Study design
- Practice guideline / consensus
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1c)
- Authors
- Desiree Steimer, Laura Frain, Clark DuMontier, Lisa Cooper, Fatima Wilder, William Dale, et al.
- PMID
- 42990988
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2026.101053
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine (top studies of the week, 8 November 2026): Lung Cancer Screening Recommendations in the Elderly: International Society for
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Current or former smokers with a 20-pack-year history between the ages of 50 and 80 years are eligible for lung cancer screening (LCS) under current guidelines. Despite age restrictions for screening, older patients remain at risk for lung cancer and, without screening, are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease that limits curative treatment options.Treatment for early-stage lung cancer has improved with minimally invasive surgical techniques and reduced toxicity associated with stereotactic body radiation therapy. Robust older patients can tolerate surgical resection or stereotactic body radiation therapy with rates of recovery similar to those of their younger peers. Given the advancements in treatment and the improved tools available to identify frailty, chronological age should not be a gatekeeper for LCS. METHODS: A taskforce within the International Society of Geriatric Oncology was created to address challenges of LCS within older patients. Taskforce members represented five different specialties with clinical expertise in lung cancer and the care of older adults. RESULTS: For patients above 80 years old who qualify for LCS, we recommend performing a geriatric assessment (GA) to assess functional status and age-related vulnerabilities. Robust patients, as determined by GA, should be eligible for screening and discuss their health care priorities in shared decision-making conversations. GA should be performed every 2 years while patients are enrolled in LCS to determine the appropriateness of continued screening efforts. CONCLUSIONS: Age should not be an exclusion criterion for LCS. Patients above 80 years old should be thoughtfully co-managed by geriatric and lung cancer specialists to determine which older patients would benefit from screening efforts.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.