Baseline Low-Dose CT Findings in a High-Risk Romanian Population: First Experience with Lung Cancer Screening.

BACKGROUND: Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening has demonstrated significant reductions in lung cancer mortality among high-risk individuals. However, data from Eastern European populations remain scarce, and no national screening program currently exists in Romania. OBJECTIVE: To describe the baseline demographic characteristics, LDCT findings, and incidental pulmonary abnormalities in a high-risk Romanian cohort undergoing the first round of lung cancer screening. METHODS: This single-center, observational study included 42 participants aged 43-76 years (mean 56.4), all of whom underwent baseline LDCT during one month in 2025. Participants were categorized according to the Lung-RADS system, and incidental findings were recorded. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed for demographic and imaging variables. RESULTS: The cohort included 27 smokers (63%), 11 former smokers (26%), and 4 never-smokers (9%), with a mean BMI of 28.3. Most participants (81%) were classified as Lung-RADS 1-2, while 4 participants (9%) had Lung-RADS 3-4 findings requiring closer follow-up. The most frequent incidental pulmonary abnormalities were fibrosis (63%), followed by emphysema (5%), pulmonary infection (5%), and others (2%). CONCLUSION: Baseline LDCT screening in this Romanian high-risk cohort revealed a predominance of low-risk nodules and smoking-related lung changes. These findings highlight both clinical feasibility and the need for structured lung cancer screening implementation at the national level.