Catch up on our recent webinar introducing the Early Lung Cancer Detection Registry (ELCDR) and exploring how this new registry supports improved early detection efforts.
This recorded session walks through the goals of the ELCDR, key quality measures, and how facilities can participate in and submit data to the registry. You’ll also get an overview of the new ELCDR reports and dashboards, along with guidance on interpreting results and applying insights to clinical operations. Whether you’re new to the registry or looking to stay current with recent developments, this webinar provides a clear, practical foundation.
Nov. 14, 2025 | LCSR & IPN: Early Lung Cancer Detection Registry (ELCDR)
Materials
Learning Objectives
After watching this webinar, the participant should be better able to:
- Describe the purpose and structure of the Early Lung Cancer Detection Registry (ELCDR) and its role in supporting early detection efforts.
- Recognize key quality measures within the ELCDR and understand how they relate to facility performance and patient outcomes.
- Explain the steps for participating in the ELCDR, including data submission requirements and available resources.
- Identify the features of the new ELCDR dashboards and reports, and understand how to interpret the information they provide.
- Recognize how ELCDR data can be used to monitor program performance, uncover gaps, and guide quality improvement initiatives.
Speakers
Ben Wandtke, MD, MS; Ella Kazerooni, MD, MS, FACR; Lu Meyer, MS; Tom Fruscello, MBA; Bobby Burchard and Judy Burleson, MHSA
FAQs
Is it correct, we only upload to the IPN registry if the nodules were found on anything OTHER than a lung screening?
- Correct, the IPN registry is not for patients who are undergoing lung cancer screening or having a follow up of a screen detected nodule. It is only for patients who had the lung nodule(s) found on NON lung cancer screening exams. That said, there are some patients with an IPN who meet lung cancer screening eligibility, and your practice may want to move these patients into screening in the future (which is done with no co-pay for the annual screen)
What if I don't have the patient's SSN or they don't have Medicare yet?
- You can use a local patient identifier such as MRN.
If we currently submit lung cancer screening data automatically through Epic, do we need to wait until Epic configures their process flow before we can use the registry?
- You can get started in the registry using the manual online form or uploading a file based on a locally derived query for the registry data elements.
If a patient had a routine chest CT within the year before the LDCT is due, do they have to wait for a year after the routine chest CT before they can get the LDCT then?
- For lung cancer screening, we move forward to the next lung cancer screening exam date if an interim chest CT was done for another reason and the last screen was a Lung-RADS 1 or 2; if it was a Lung-RADS 3 or 4A that chest CT done for another reason could replace the 3 or 6 month follow-up and alter the date the next screening exam. For an Incidentally-detected Pulmonary Nodule, the chest CT done for another reason may complete that cycle of follow up if it is within the proximity of that recommended follow up exam, or it may change the next follow-up exam date.
Are there any Veteran's Medical Centers using this registry? We do tract IPN at our VA.
- No, we don't have any Veteran Medical Center participants yet. You could be the first!
Among the hundreds of reports out there, how will you know these are out there. Is there a Radiologist BI-RAD code coming?
- Most organizations use natural language processing tools of Boolean search to identify structured words to find reports that say specific key words such as nodule or mass. The ACR is working on development of a structured system similar to Lung-RADS that would incorporate pulmonary nodule follow-up guidance outside of the setting of lung cancer screening.
Does the registry provide a way to see which Individuals are due for follow-up and when they are due?
- We currently do not provide a tracking system – we anticipate most sites will use a 3rd party tracking solution or one of the EMR based solutions. We do use information that is provided in the registry to identify the timeframe of follow-up to assess recommendation quality and the timeliness of follow-up.