Can a heart scan reveal lung cancer risk 15 years ahead?

ESC 2026 · 10 Scientific Presentations · Oral & Poster · 3/10

One cardiac scan. A 15-year signal.

Organised by: European Society of Cardiology (ESC) visual

A coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan is performed for cardiovascular prevention. But could the same scan also reveal something about a patient’s future lung cancer risk? 

At ESC Congress 2026, HeartLung.AI presented a 15-year study exploring this question using Sybil AI and routine CAC scans from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Researchers applied Sybil AI to baseline CAC scans from 5,726 participants.

Sybil received only the CT images—no smoking history or other clinical risk factors.

The findings showed:

• Lung cancer risk prediction remained around 70% AUC through much of the long-term follow-up

• Predictive information persisted for up to 15 years

• The signal remained even after excluding cancers diagnosed within the first three years

• Participants who later developed lung cancer had higher Sybil scores at baseline

Beyond cardiovascular prevention

These findings suggest that information already captured in a routine cardiac CT may potentially help identify individuals at elevated lung cancer risk years before clinical diagnosis.

No additional scan.

No additional radiation.

More information from imaging already being performed.

Download the full presentation below to explore the study design, results, and potential implications.

Sybil 15-year.pptx

Download PPTX • 4.79MB