Abstract: Background and purpose: Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening in Eastern China has found that the previously considered “low-risk population”, that is, young women who do not smoke, have a higher detection rate of lung cancer. Whether this phenomenon also exists in Western China, and how to determine the target receivers for LDCT is still unknown. This study analyzed the data of the screening of some residents in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and provided a practical basis for promoting practice of LDCT. Methods: From Apr. 2020 to May 2020, all employees of the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University voluntarily underwent free LDCT screenings as one of their annual health examinations, including retired employees. All suspicious imaging data were reviewed by the multidisciplinary team of chest diseases in the hospital, and recommendations for clinical diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up were given. Results: A total of 1 039 employees underwent LDCT, including 739 (71.1%) women, with a median age of 35 years (19-90 years). Among the participants, 698 (67.2%) were of Han ethnicity. LDCT showed 351 (33.8%) cases with lung abnormalities. The detection rate was positively correlated with age (P<0.001). Among these abnormal cases, 86 (8.3%) were solid nodules, 12 (1.2%) were ground-glass opacities (GGO), 141 (13.5%) were calcified lesions, and 112 (10.8%) cases of other benign lesions. One case of lung cancer was finally diagnosed, and he was a male smoker . Two cases underwent surgical resection. Pathological diagnosis confirmed that one solid nodule was tuberculosis, and one GGO (maximum diameter was 3 cm) was an inflammatory lesion. In the other two cases of GGO with a diameter greater than 8 mm, the lesions were found to shrink during the half-year follow-up CT scan, considering inflammatory lesions as well. No evidence of malignancy had been found in the remaining patients until this manuscript was complete. Conclusion: LDCT as a regular health examination detects a considerable proportion of healthy population with lung abnormalities. How it can be used as a routine screening method among Xinjiang residents needs further investigation.

Key words: Xinjiang, Low-dose CT, Lung cancer screening