Javier Zulueta, MD
A new program at Mount Sinai Morningside represents a valuable tool to catch lung cancer—the cancer responsible for the most deaths in both men and women—at its earliest stages when it is most treatable.
Harnessing the power of leading-edge technology, the Incidental Lung Nodule Program employs artificial intelligence to sift through radiology reports ordered for patients for various conditions, looking for incidental lung nodules. These innocuous-seeming spots, often discovered during routine tests for unrelated issues, can be silent harbingers of a potentially life-threatening condition.
The program is marking its first anniversary. In just one year, it has identified more than 3,000 patients, including smokers, former smokers, and non-smokers, who may be at risk. Of these, more than 1,500 people are being actively monitored for any changes in their lung nodules, enabling early detection and intervention.
Early detection is critical, according to Javier Zulueta, MD, Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Mount Sinai Morningside.
“Our goal is to engage physicians, smokers, former smokers, and the public in early detection,” he says. “Through screening programs like ours, we can catch cancers early and significantly improve health outcomes.”
The program operates automatically, with computed tomography (CT) scans ordered for various conditions systematically scrutinized by computerized algorithms. For example, patients who may undergo scans for other cancers, heart disease, or following surgeries may be candidates for this program. Upon detection of a lung nodule, a multidisciplinary team, including specialized pulmonologists, steps in. Patients are quickly contacted, and a comprehensive follow-up plan is set in motion, ensuring monitoring, timely diagnosis, and treatment.
“The Incidental Lung Nodule Program shows our commitment to medical excellence and our dedication to serving the West Harlem community, which has elevated rates of lung cancer,” says Dr. Zulueta. “We offer not just treatment but empowerment through knowledge and early detection.”
Mount Sinai Health System has been a pioneer in the effort to diagnose lung cancers. The International Early Lung Cancer Action Project, whose goal is to ensure smokers and former smokers receive low-dose CT, was started at The Mount Sinai Hospital and has expanded around the world. Likewise, the Incidental Lung Nodule Program will be expanding across the Mount Sinai Health System.
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women, not including skin cancer. Prostate cancer is more common in men and breast cancer is more common among women. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, according to the society. Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older.