The Screening team at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (the Partnership) supports developing cancer screening initiatives in collaboration with a broad range of partners to improve quality and equity of screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer in Canada. One of their main initiatives, the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control, is to strengthen existing screening efforts and implement lung cancer screening programs across Canada. That is where the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR), with its successful history of a Mammography Accreditation Program became involved. The CAR and CSTR are excited to announce the launch of the first program in the CAR’s QUEST curriculum: Introduction to Lung Cancer Screening.
After reviewing evidence from Canadian and international screening programs as well as research studies, a multidisciplinary team at the CAR created robust patient and imaging focused guidance standards for lung screening programs. Through the Accelerating Lung Cancer Screening Program Development and Implementation Initiative funded by the Partnership, the CAR and its Affiliate Society, the Canadian Society of Thoracic Radiology (CSTR) received an unrestricted educational grant to develop comprehensive educational content for radiologists focused on the imaging interpretation and reporting of lung cancer screening.
The focus of the education is not only to ensure optimal sensitivity and specificity from radiologists, but also to educate on the nature of screening as a risk reduction strategy. Together, both the CAR Lung Screening Accreditation Program (LSAP), and the Quality Education Screening Training Program (QUEST), work in tandem to protect both patients and medical imaging departments by ensuring continued confidence in the medical imaging community and by helping in the early detection of lung cancer.
Radiologists will develop the knowledge and skills necessary through this multifaceted education program that includes both the identification and classification of screening abnormalities and management considerations appropriate to the Canadian context.
This accredited program is designed for practicing radiologists interested in and/or whose work involves performing or interpreting images in the diagnosis of lung cancer screening.
The program is divided into three parts featuring ten didactic lectures, interactive multiple-choice question modules, as well as a live instructor-led case-based review session.
PART I
- Summary of Lung Cancer Screening Trials (Dr. Jana Taylor)
- Benefits and Harms of Lung Cancer Screening (Dr. Jana Taylor)
- LDCT Technical Requirements (Dr. Jacek Strzelczyk)
- Lung Nodule Characterization (Dr. Carole Dennie)
*French version will be released TBD
PART II Coming Fall 2022!
- Solid Nodule Evaluation (Dr. Valerie Astrope)
- Subsolid Nodule Evaluation and Management (Dr. Carole Dennie)
- Cystic Lesion Evaluation and Management (Dr. Carole Dennie)
- Lung Cancer Screening CT Common Errors (Dr. Daria Manos)
- Reporting of Incidental Findings (Dr. Jana Taylor)
- Communication of Screening Results (Dr. Daria Manos)
*French version will be released TBD
PART III Coming Fall 2022!
- Instructor-led case review (English and French)
The CAR wishes to acknowledge the efforts and contributions of the members of the LCS CPD Working Group and Scientific Planning Committee:
- Carole Dennie, Chair, University of Ottawa
- Rawan Abu Mughli, University of Toronto
- Valerie Astrope, North Island Hospital Comox Valley
- Daria Manos, Dalhousie University
- Jana Taylor, McGill University
- Jacek Strzelczyk, University of Manitoba
The first phase of the program is now available on RAD Academy, the CAR’s learning management system. All CAR members can access this complimentary today. Do not yet have access to RAD Academy? Reach out to [email protected] to sign up.