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Lung Nodule Clinic

Beautiful middle-aged woman looks forward wearing a head wrap

You may have been told that you have a nodule (small growth) on your lung. Nodules are often not cancerous and may not cause symptoms, but it’s important to get them examined. At Trinity Health Michigan, you’ll get expert care. If we detect a spot on your lungs, we refer to you to our lung nodule clinic for an expert evaluation.

More Information About Lung Nodules

Lung nodules (also called pulmonary nodules) are often just a few centimeters wide. They show up as a spot on the lung during lung cancer screenings or other chest imaging studies. Pulmonary nodules are present in nearly half of all chest imaging scans, but only a small number end up being cancerous. Some nodules go away on their own.

What causes nodules in the lungs?

Common causes of lung nodules include:

  • Infections: When infections cause inflammation in lung tissue, groups of cells may clump together forming granulomas. These bean-shaped growths are noncancerous.
     
  • Other sources of inflammation: If you have a medical condition that causes inflammation, such as arthritis, you are more likely to experience lung nodules.

The Lung Nodule Clinic at Trinity Health Michigan: Why Choose Us?

At our Lung Nodule Clinic, where trusted experts assess pulmonary nodules and give you personalized recommendations.

Highlights of our program include:

  • Highly-skilled lung doctors: You receive care from lung experts who treat a high volume of patients. We consider all possible causes of the nodule. We also determine which ones require additional evaluation, helping protect you against unnecessary testing.
     
  • Nurse navigator: With lung nodules, it's natural to have questions and we're happy to help. Our team includes a nurse who specializes in helping people with lung issues receive care. If you need additional tests or appointments, you can count on our navigator to coordinate all aspects of your care.
     
  • Advanced testing options: Interventional radiologists assess suspicious nodules using bronchoscopy. They slide a tiny camera down your nose or throat to evaluate nodules and take a tissue sample if necessary. These tests allow us to identify the early signs of aggressive cancers, such as small cell lung cancer.

Care Services for Lung Nodules

We use a variety of techniques to learn more about the nodules and what they mean for your health. We start by looking at the nodule on imaging scans. We also ask about your health history, including lung disease and whether you use or have used tobacco. We then perform a physical exam that includes listening to your lungs.

Your care may also include:

  • Additional imaging tests: We may recommend more tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the nodule.
     
  • Bronchoscopy: Our interventional radiologists perform procedures to examine suspicious nodules that need a closer look.
     
  • Routine screenings: Our experts may recommend more frequent cancer screenings to determine whether the nodule is growing. Find out more about lung cancer screening.
     
  • Biopsy: We may perform a procedure to take a tissue sample from the nodule. This test allows us to confirm or rule out health issues such as cancer.

If we suspect cancer, our surgeons, radiation therapists, medical oncologists and other specialists discuss your case together, often before your first appointment. We work as a team so your care moves forward as quickly as possible. Find out more about lung cancer.