Lung Cancer Screening

Lung Nodules & Lung Cancer Screening

A lung nodule is a small spot on the lung seen on an X-ray or CT scan. Nodules are common and most are not cancer. They can be scars from old infections or inflammation. Some need follow-up scans or testing to make sure they are not an early lung cancer.

Lung cancer screening with a yearly low-dose CT scan finds lung cancer early, when it is most treatable. Under current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines, screening is recommended if you:

Are 50 to 80 years old, and
Have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (for example, 1 pack a day for 20 years or 2 packs a day for 10 years), and
Smoke now or quit within the past 15 years

Medicare covers yearly screening for eligible people ages 50 to 77. Check your eligibility with the tool below.

Am I Eligible?

Your age Smoking status

Packs per day (on average)

Number of years you smoked

Based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2021) criteria. This tool is for information only and is not medical advice. Medicare covers screening for ages 50–77. Talk with your doctor about whether screening is right for you.

Diagnosis & Treatment

How we evaluate lung nodules

We review your scans and your risk factors, such as age, smoking history, nodule size and shape, and compare with any older images. Depending on the findings, the next step may be:

A follow-up CT scan at a set interval, following national Fleischner Society guidelines
A PET scan
A biopsy, often done with navigational bronchoscopy or EBUS, or a CT-guided needle biopsy
Referral to thoracic surgery, oncology or radiation oncology, coordinated by our team

Getting started with screening

Screening begins with a shared decision-making visit to review benefits and risks. If you smoke, we will also help you quit, which is the single best way to lower your risk.