Table 3 Indications for referral to primary care and recommended primary care actions.
From: Implications of incidental findings from lung screening for primary care: data from a UK pilot
LHC clinical scenario or LDCT incidental findings | Recommended primary care action |
|---|---|
Obstructive spirometry with chronic cough or dyspnoea; no known diagnosis of COPD or asthma | COPD review |
Moderate or severe coronary artery calcification on LDCT; not already taking lipid-lowering therapy, and not known to have a history of ischaemic heart disease | |
Moderate or severe aortic valve calcification, or evidence of other cardiac valve disease | Echocardiogram referral |
Aortic aneurysms (referred only via primary care if nonurgent) | Vascular or cardiothoracic referral, and/or echocardiogram referral |
Dilated pulmonary artery suggestive of pulmonary hypertension | Echocardiogram referral |
Other imaging finding requiring further primary care investigation or referral •Suspicious liver, adrenal, or renal lesions •Suspected pneumonia •Miscellaneous musculoskeletal findings | Referrals as specified by radiologist: •Imaging or biochemical tests or onward referral •For clinical assessment •Recommendations for investigation at discretion of reporting radiologist |
