Revision History
The ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center designation is unit-specific. All sites applying for this designation must meet the requirements outlined below, including having active ACR CT accreditation in the chest module on the designated unit(s).
A facility is eligible to receive the ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center designation if it meets the following basic criteria:
ACR CT accreditation in the chest module
Screening protocol meets minimum technical specifications, as detailed in the table below
Participation in the ACR Lung Cancer Screening Registry
Personnel qualifications including:
Lung cancer screening interpreting physicians: a minimum of 200 chest CT cases in prior 36 months
Medical physicists and radiologic technologists continue to meet the requirements of the CT accreditation program
We will review the materials to ensure your facility’s screening protocol meets the minimum requirements for ACR designation (see the technical specifications detailed in the table below).
The process of becoming an ACR Designated Lung Cancer Screening Center is a 2-step process:
Step 1: After achieving ACR CT accreditation including but not limited to the chest module, submit an online application including information regarding your Lung Cancer Screening Center characteristics (Lung Cancer Screening Supervising Physician and contact person), accredited CT unit information, Lung Cancer Screening Questionnaire and associated invoice/fee of $400.
Step 2: Submit an online testing packet to include the CT Lung Cancer Screening Data Form. NOTE: Image submission is not required.
After completing our review, we will send a confidential report for each unit to the CT modality-specific supervising physician at the practice site. The report includes evaluation results, defines areas that can be improved and provides recommendations for the facility.
Facilities meeting the designation requirements will be identified as ACR Designated Lung Cancer Screening Centers by a symbol on the ACR Accredited Facility Search page.
Designation Renewals
The ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center designation will remain effective for the duration of the unit’s CT accreditation period, as long as the unit maintains ACR CT accreditation of the chest module. To avoid a lapse in the designation, renewal should be submitted at the time of CT accreditation renewal. Designation renewal requires submission of a new application, attestation, clinical data form and fee.
Payment Policy and Fees
The ACR Designated Lung Cancer Screening Center Fee is $400 per facility. Payment must be included with the application. Applications received without payment will not be processed. The following payment options are available:
Pay by Check: Make checks payable to the American College of Radiology and reference your ACR CT modality identification number on the check or stub.
American College of Radiology
P.O. Box 412722
Boston, MA 02241-2722
Credit card payments using VISA, MasterCard and American Express are accepted.
Fees are nonrefundable and are subject to change.
Adult Lung Cancer Screening: Technical Specifications - Adult Chest for Lung Cancer Screening
Technique Parameters(Items in bold are designation requirements - Failure to meet these requirements will result in deferral of designation) | ||
Scan Parameter | Parameter Specification | Comments |
Scanner Type | Multidetector helical (spiral) detector rows ≥ 4 | Non-helical and single detector scanners are not appropriate for lung cancer screening CT |
Required Series | No IV or oral contrast should be used | |
kV | 100 to 140 acceptable for standard sized patient | Should be set in combination with mAs to meet CTDIvol specifications |
mAs | Should be set in combination with kVp to meet CTDIvol specifications | The mAs selected should result in diagnostic-quality images of the lungs Should take into account the patient’s body habitus and age, slice width, kVp, and unique attributes of the scanner and acquisition mode |
Max. Tube Rotation Time | ≤ 0.5 seconds | 0.75 second is acceptable if a single breath hold ≤15 seconds can be achieved for scanners that cannot perform 0.5 second rotation time |
Pitch (IEC Definition) | Between 0.7 and 1.5 | Should be set with other technical parameters to achieve single breath hold scan and CTDIvol specifications |
Respiration | Single breath hold full inspiration | |
Scan Duration/Acquisition Time | ≤ 15 seconds | Time to acquire the scan though entire lungs within a single breath |
Reconstructed image width (nominal width of reconstructed image along z-axis) | ≤ 2.5 mm | ≤ 1 mm preferred |
Reconstructed image spacing (Distance between two reconstructed images) | ≤ slice width | Overlapping reconstructions are not necessary but are acceptable |
Reconstruction Algorithm | Standard (mediastinum and lung) High spatial frequency (lung parenchyma) is optional. | Consistent with diagnostic CT studies; Iterative reconstruction algorithms encouraged |
CTDIvol | ≤ 3 mGy for standard size patient | CTDIvol for a standard sized patient using the 32cm diameter CTDI phantom; standard sized patient is defined as 5'7" and 154 pounds |
Adjustment in scanner output for patient size | Manual or automatic method (both are acceptable) | (1) manual adjustments in mAs for different sized patients or (2) use of automatic exposure controls including tube current modulation (CareDose4D, AutomA, etc.) and automated kV selection tools (CarekV) |
Anatomical Coverage/Display | ||
Scan Parameter | Parameter Specifications | Comments |
Anatomical Coverage | Lung apex through the lung bases | The site should attempt to limit coverage to no more than 2 cm below the costophrenic sulci. Adrenals do not need to be imaged. |
Gantry Tilt | None | |
Display Field of View | 1 cm beyond the rib cage | Does not need to include entire chest wall thickness |
Display Window Width/Level | Lung and Mediastinum | Lung: Allow adequate visualization of the lung parenchyma and intraparenchymal airways and vessels. WW = 1200 – 1500 HU WL = -550 – - 700 HUMediastinum: Allow visualization of the mediastinal and hilar vessels and allow distinction of the chest wall musculature from subcutaneous fat. WW = 250 – 450 HU WL = 40 – 80 HU |
Additional Reformats | MPR and MIP are encouraged | MPR: Multiplanar reformationMIP: Maximum intensity projection |
This document is copyright protected by the American College of Radiology. Any attempt to reproduce, copy, modify, alter or otherwise change or use this document without the express written permission of the American College of Radiology is prohibited. 3-26-14 | ||
Revision History for this Article | ||
Date | Section | Description of Revision(s) |
12-12-19 | All | Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes |
3-30-2020 | Payment | Added new payment instructions |
1-4-2022 | Edited process to apply for LCS Designation with new accreditation database | |
4-6-2022 | 4th paragraph, changed first quarter of 2022 to first half of 2022 | |
5-6-2022 | LCSD application process has been put on hold until the release of the new accreditation database | |
11-9-2022 | LCSD is available in the online accreditation system | |
3-29-2023 | Added personnel qualification criteria | |