Lung Nodule Clinic

You have been referred to the Lung Nodule Clinic because a nodule was detected on a CT scan of your chest. The CT scan could have been either a:

• Lung Screening CT scan, which you would have had if your doctor thought you had a high chance of developing lung cancer
• CT scan for another reason and a nodule was found. This is considered an “incidental finding”

The Lung Nodule Clinic watches and evaluates nodules found from both types of scans.

Having a nodule does not mean that you have cancer or that you will develop cancer.

• A pulmonary nodule is a small irregularity within the lung tissue. It can be round or oval-shaped
• There are two types of pulmonary nodules: non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant)
• Often nodules are non-cancerous and may resolve over time
• Some causes for non-cancerous nodules include:
• Infection
• Inflammation (swelling)
• Growths that are not normal, such as:
• Fibroma (fibrous connective tissue)
• Hamartoma (abnormal grouping of normal tissues)
• Neurofibroma (nerve tissue)

• Sometimes, a small nodule may be an early, developing cancer. Cancer is easier to cure when caught early and when surgery is performed.
• Some types of cancerous tumors include:
• Lung cancer (non-small cell, small cell and carcinoid are types of lung cancer)
• Adenocarcinoma (abnormal growth of glandular cells)
• Lymphoma (a growth containing lymphoid tissue)
• Carcinoid (a small, slow growing cancerous tumor)
• Sarcoma (a tumor consisting of connective tissue)
• Metastatic tumors (tumors that have spread to the lungs from cancer in another part of the body)

All size nodules can be seen or reviewed by the pulmonologist at the Lung Nodule Clinic. The most common size nodules seen in the Lung Nodule clinic measure between 6 and 20 millimeters (mm).

6 mm is about the size of a pencil eraser.

20 mm is about the size of a penny from top to bottom.

Most pulmonary nodules are not cancerous. If a nodule is an early developing cancer, it has the best chance of being cured if it is detected and treated as early as possible.

Once we receive a referral from your doctor, our nurse navigator will contact you to complete an intake. The intake helps us to learn more about your history, the reason for your CT scan and any prior CT scans that you may have had. If you have been referred to the Lung Nodule Clinic, but have not yet heard from our nurse, please contact your nodule clinic directly.

Yes. If you have had a CT scan which reveals a nodule, please call our nurse navigator to complete an intake. We will ask that you send us your imaging and records for review. We will then schedule an appointment in the clinic. We do require that your CT scan be completed within the past year. If it was done more than one year ago, we suggest you follow up with your primary care doctor to obtain more current imaging.

• The physician that specializes in lung nodules will review your scans. They will go over any risk factors you may have.
• Smoker or previous smoker
• History of cancer or family history of cancer
• Job history for possible exposure.

• The nurse navigator will assist you in scheduling all of the necessary appointments and consultations that you’ll need to get started. A multidisciplinary team will review your test results and history, and you’ll meet with a pulmonary specialist who will recommend a plan of care.
• If your nodule is small or its features suggest a low likelihood that it represents cancer, we may recommend that imaging is repeated in an interval of weeks or months to monitor stability.
• Nodules may be monitored at intervals (for example 3, 6, or 12 month) for two years to assure stability.
• If your nodule shows more concerning characteristics, further diagnostic tests may be recommended such as a PET CT or perhaps a biopsy.

• At the end of your appointment, you will be scheduled either for a follow up appointment or additional diagnostic tests or procedures.
• If you have any questions regarding appointments, please contact your nodule clinic directly.
• Register online if you would like to be connected with a free smoking cessation counselor for additional support.