About Ochsner

Ochsner Participates in National Lung Cancer Screening Study

In 1939 Dr. Alton Ochsner discovered a link between tobacco and lung cancer, and Ochsner Clinic Foundation is continuing his legacy by becoming one of 29 sites throughout the US to participate in the National Cancer Institute's National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), a randomized, controlled, 8-year study of 50,000 current or former smokers.

“The NLST will compare spiral CT and standard chest x-ray,” explains Dr. Michael A. Sullivan, Radiologist and Principal Investigator for the NLST at Ochsner. “Both chest x-rays and spiral CT scans have been used to find lung cancer early. So far, however, neither method has been shown to reduce a person's chance of dying from lung cancer. This study aims to show if either test is better at reducing deaths from this disease.”

Currently, in 15% to 30% of cases where lung cancer is detected the disease has already spread outside the lung. Chest x-rays detect tumors about 1–2 centimeters in size or bigger. Spiral CT can detect tumors well under 1 cm in size. Conventional wisdom suggests that the smaller the tumor and the earlier it is detected the greater the chance of survival. However, recent studies indicate that 25% to 60% of screening spiral CT scans of smokers and former smokers show abnormalities, most of which are not lung cancer but can mimic lung cancer and require additional testing. These tests may cause anxiety and lead to unnecessary biopsy or surgery. Whether finding these lung abnormalities will reduce deaths from lung cancer is unknown.

For more information call 504-842-LUNG or visit www.ochnser.org/nlst.

Dr. Michael Sullivan Awarded Gold Medal from the Radiological Society of North America

The Gold Medal is the highest honor of the Society and is awarded annually by the Board of Directors to those persons who, in the judgment of the Board, have rendered unusual services to the science of radiology. Michael A. Sullivan, MD, has earned the respect and admiration of his peers nationwide for his leadership activities and dedication to the specialty of radiology. The Radiological Society of North America presented Dr. Sullivan with its Gold Medal in appreciation of his outstanding leadership and devotion to research and education.

Dr. Sullivan, Associate Chairman of the Department of Radiology, has been an Ochsner staff radiologist since 1969. For 3 decades, he has been the Program Director or Co-Director of the Radiology Residency Program, and has trained more than 100 radiology residents. He is also a clinical professor of radiology at Tulane University School of Medicine and a clinical assistant professor of radiology at Louisiana State University School of Medicine.

Dr. Sullivan is a member of the American Board of Radiology's Board of Trustees, a member of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Review Committee for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and an honorary member of the European Association of Radiology and the InterAmerican College of Radiology. A local as well as a national leader, Dr. Sullivan has served in major offices at state and local radiological societies. He is a past president of the New Orleans Radiology Society and the Radiological Society of Louisiana.

Dr. Sullivan is the author or coauthor of approximately 40 articles. His work has appeared in many prestigious publications including The Journal of the American Medical Association, RadioGraphics, Radiology, and The Southern Medical Journal.