WASHINGTON (AP) – A special type of CT scan can detect lung cancer early enough to save lives, announced Thursday the National Cancer Institute, the first evidence that a screening test can help combat one of the Cancer most lethal variants.

At stake are controversial multislice spiral CT, where a rotating scanner checks the lungs at various angles to detect tumors when they are half the size of which can detect a regular chest x-ray. Some studies have suggested that early detection is useful, while other studies concluded that it could be too damaging to detect benign tumors.

The experiment in the United States covered for 53,000 smokers or former smokers to try to settle the debate. Found 20% fewer deaths from lung cancer among those who were viewed with spiral CT than among those who were examined with chest radiographs, the institute said on Thursday, a difference so significant that it ended the study early.

The actual number of deaths averted was rather modest: 354 died in the spiral CT group in the eight-year study compared with 442 in the group of radiographs.

The institute said it is not clear that all smokers should get the scans, which are not without risk.

The best advice for preventing lung cancer is to quit smoking, said institute director Dr. Harold Varmus.

Anyway, “a validated approach that can reduce cancer mortality by 20% has the potential to save a significant number of people from the ravages of this disease,” he said.

In the United States are diagnosed 200,000 new cases of cancer each year and the disease kills 159,000 each year. Is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage of development, and the average five-year survival is only 15%.

Many smokers have sought to undergo spiral CT, although the American Cancer Society has not recommended the test, citing lack of firm evidence of their effectiveness, and most insurance does not cover the cost of 300 to 400 dollars.

These scans involve risks: cancer often confused with any old infection or a benign lump, leading to unnecessary biopsies or surgery which in turn can cause a collapsed lung, infection or other problems.

The Institute continues to collect data on false alarm and other risks of the study.

Nor is it clear that the study results are applicable to all smokers. The experiment recruited subjects from 55 to 74 who were or had been heavy smokers and underwent annual CT for three years.

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The ovarian cysts are benign tumors that usually disappear spontaneously. If they persist or grow, the doctor can remove them. There are three basic types of malignant tumors, which are formed on the surface of epithelial ovarian carcinoma are known and are the most common.

Also, but much less common, there might be cases of cancer in cells that produce eggs and tissue surrounding the ovary.

The most common metastatic ovarian cancer occur in the peritoneum, which is the sac lining the intestines.

In these cases there is ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen), while if they reach the blood or lymphatic system, cancer cells can travel throughout the body, which increase the likelihood of metastases in other parts of the body.

The neck of the uterus, also called cervix connects the vagina with the uterine cavity that is lined by the endometrium. Cervical cancer is also known as squamous cell carcinoma because the cells lining their surfaces are flat and thin, as if they were scales.

Scientists believe that not all abnormal cells that appear in the cervix are carcinogenic, although it is advisable to carry out regular checks, because it can be the first step toward cancer. Sometimes it is intraepithelial lesions formed by abnormal tissue that appears only on the surface of the cervix.

This disease occurs mainly in women aged 25 to 35 years and sometimes disappear spontaneously. More severe cases develop in women 30 to 40 years and can take months or even years to cause cancer. If you go beyond the surface and grow into the depth of the cervix are called invasive lesions usually appear after age 40.

The uterus is the cavity in which a fetus develops. It consists of two layers of different tissues: the inner, very thin, which is called the endometrium and another external, consisting of muscle called the myometrium. Most tumors of the uterus occur after menopause.

You can give three main cases of benign disorders, if not disappear naturally, can be solved with surgery. Fibroids are groups of cells that grow in the muscle of the uterus and never result in cancer. Another type of pathology is such endometriosis.

It occurs mainly in women aged 30 to 40 years who have never been pregnant and is in the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus or near other organs. Finally, the hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells on the surface of uterus is often treated with hormones or by surgery.

The most common metastatic cervical cancer occur in the lymph nodes and other organs like the lungs, liver and bones.

Squamous cell carcinoma (or squamous cell carcinoma) develops in the middle layers of the epidermis and accounts for 20% of all cases of skin cancer.

Usually occurs in areas that have been exposed to the sun, like the top of the nose, ears, forehead, upper lip and backs of hands.

You can also occur in areas of skin that have been in contact with chemicals that have undergone radiotherapy, or have been burned. In the genital area, appears less frequently.

Usually occurs usually a red bump and drive. Sometimes it may look, scaly, or bleed and develop a scab that never heals. As you have enlarged nodular and sometimes presents a warty surface. In the end, it becomes an open sore and growing into the underlying tissue.

Through the lymph system can extend to any body part, but this happens rarely. It is a tumor with a tendency to grow and be on the same site, once removed. But it tends to spread.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of nonmelanoma skin cancer. About 75% of all skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas.

Subsequent to the bottom layer of the epidermis, consisting of basal cells. And usually occurs in areas that have been exposed to the sun, like the head and neck.

It grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body so it is less aggressive than squamous cell carcinoma. Although not for that we must stop treating it as if nothing is done, over time, will spread to surrounding tissues.

It looks like this is a minor bump with a smooth and shiny appearance. But it can be shaped scar, still firm to the touch. Usually develops slowly although the rate varies from one to another.

It is not uncommon to reappear once the person has been treated. 35% to 50% of those diagnosed will develop a new skin cancer within five years from first diagnosis.

Skin cancer is a disease caused by the development of cancerous cells in any of the layers of the skin.

There are two types: non-melanoma and melanoma.

The non-melanoma cancer is the most common and is called nonmelanoma because they formed from other skin cells are not accumulating pigment (melanocytes). Within this type are all skin cancers less malignant melanoma is less common and more malignant and explained below.

Skin cancer is most prevalent among white skinned people who have spent much time exposed to sunlight, especially when sun exposure occurred in childhood and there were numerous sunburn. Although it may appear anywhere on the skin, is more common than is presented on the face, neck, hands and arms.

This cancer is one of the most common of all cancers, and diagnosed an estimated two million new cases per year worldwide.

In recent years, the incidence of malignant melanoma has increased dramatically, has multiplied by 3.3 in males and 2.5 in women over the last twenty years in Spain. Despite this, less than 3% of all tumors and early detection campaigns have allowed the mortality is reduced by 30% since the seventies.

You can recognize a change in the appearance of the skin, like a wound that does not heal or a small bump. You may also see a red, rough or scaly skin with a tendency to grow.

Any changes or abnormality of the skin, one must see the doctor. It can extract and analyze a sample (biopsy) to check whether a tumor is malignant or not.