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John R. Benfield, MD
Los Angeles, Calif

Arch Surg. 2002;137:940.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Lamont and coauthors say that annual computed tomography (CT) scans will detect SPLCs, contending that early recognition will be beneficial. In 1980, the American Cancer Society ceased to recommend plain chest radiographs for early lung cancer detection,¹ and therefore, one would need compelling evidence now to justify annual postoperative CT scans. The inherent biologic traits of cancer and its stage are the important determinants of outcome. How beneficial is early diagnosis during postoperative surveillance?

Lamont and colleagues refer to the study of Walsh et al,² which challenged the view that early diagnosis of recurrence is beneficial. Surprisingly, this challenge came from a renowned center where every effort is made to treat cancers early and definitively. An accompanying editorial by Hiebert³ and my discussion⁴ argued, without real data, that thoracic surgeons should provide follow-up care. Lamont and colleagues also mention a study by Gilbert et al,⁵ which . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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Systematic Postoperative Radiologic Follow-up in Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer for Detecting Second Primary Lung Cancer in Stage IA
Jeffrey P. Lamont, James T. Kakuda, David Smith, Lawrence D. Wagman, and Frederic W. Grannis, Jr
Arch Surg. 2002;137(8):935-939.
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