Design of the first national lung cancer screening program in the European Union: the Croatian Model
Question No European Union country has implemented a national lung cancer screening program despite evidence from previous trials showing significant mortality reduction. Findings Croatia successfully launched a fully integrated national lung cancer screening program using LDCT, AI-assisted volumetric analysis, modified I-ELCAP criteria, and GP-centered recruitment. Clinical relevance The Croatian model demonstrates the feasibility of national lung cancer screening within a European public healthcare system with full reimbursement, providing a replicable framework for other EU countries implementing lung cancer screening programs.
Authors
- Claudia I. Henschke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6085-5305)
- Miroslav Samaržija (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5303-9353)
- Hans‐Ulrich Kauczor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6730-9462)
- David F. Yankelevitz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7364-4294)
- Rowena Yip (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6208-2780)
- Marko Jakopović (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4815-7512)
- Anas Aboud (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4430-3519)
- Melita Kukuljan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4514-1400)
- Vjekoslava Amerl Šakić
- Kristina Krpina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7369-7473)
- Ines Balint
- Ante Marušić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6644-3774)
Institutions
- University Hospital Centre Zagreb (HR)
- University of Rijeka (HR)
- University of Zagreb (HR)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- University Hospital Heidelberg (DE)
- German Center for Lung Research (DE)
- University of Split (HR)
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- European Radiology
- Published
- 2025-12-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-025-12185-w
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.52