Understanding the Dramatic Shift in Reported Lung Cancer Screening Rates: Methodologic Changes in the American Lung Association’s State of Lung Cancer Report

The American Lung Association's state of lung cancer report showed a dramatic increase in national lung cancer screening rates from 4.5% in 2023 to 16.0% in 2024. This apparent improvement stems from a methodologic change-switching from the American College of Radiology Lung Cancer Screening Registry to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. This Viewpoint examines this transition, discusses research and policy implications, and highlights the importance of understanding methodologic changes when interpreting screening statistics.