Research team
Expertise
Radiology expert, dedicated to chest imaging. Clinical and research focus is imaging of thoracic oncology: lung cancer, early lung cancer and pulmonary nodules, lung cancer screening, mediastinal and pleural tumors. Expertise and interest in clinical application and validation of AI algorithms, mainly in the broad field of chest imaging.
Targeting high risk (ex-)smokers in Flanders (BE) for lung cancer screenng with low-dose CT-scan.
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, worldwide and in Belgium. Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) has been shown to reduce lung cancer specific mortality up to 26% in a high-risk population of current and former smokers. Implementation of LDCT LCS is hence in progress in several European countries, including Belgium. Recruitment of the target group, which is not defined by age and sex but by risk of developing lung cancer, is different than other cancer screening programmes and faces several challenges and barriers to overcome. Our study will A/Prospectively investigate the accrual of eligible high-risk participants in 5 different cohorts of at-risk Flemish citizens: 1/approach by their general practitioner, 2/occupational physician, 3/tobaccologist, 4/a letter joined to their next coming invitation for breast or colon cancer screening and 5/approach of hard-to-reach socio-economic minorities through the Centers for Respiratory Health (Flemish Society of Respiratory Health and Tuberculosis-VRGT) B/Gain insight into the views of relevant stakeholders regarding best practices, barriers, and opportunities for successful implementation of a future lung cancer screening programme in Flanders.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Snoeckx Annemiek
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Optimization of low dose CT for lung cancer screening: finding the best balance between radiation risk and performance in terms of image quality and success rate of computer aided detection..
Abstract
Lung cancer causes a large mortality, worldwide and in Flanders, with 3822 cases in 2016. The only technique with proven mortality reduction is lung cancer screening (LKS) with CT scans. In 2020, a mortality reduction of 26% (men) and 41% (women) was measured in the Dutch-Belgian "NELSON" study. The Flemish 'Task Force Lung Cancer Screening' therefore brings together experts to design and subsequently support an LKS program for population groups where this improvement can be continued. All (expected) questions from the responsible Flemish government must be answered. With this project, radiologists and physicists from the Task Force want to find adequate answers to the following questions: what is the radiation risk associated with the CT scans? Can imaging be optimized for even lower X-ray doses? How are computer algorithms for detecting and measuring cancers performing? The greatest challenge is to develop new test methods in a world with rapidly changing technology - e.g. artificial intelligence. Three university groups will combine their expertise with (1) risk assessment, (2) evaluation of clinical image quality and (3) computer-aided detection and characterization of cancer. All new techniques and test criteria will be bundled in a unique test protocol to assess and optimize the quality of each CT protocol or computer algorithm for LKS.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Snoeckx Annemiek
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project