What is the treatment for a nodule detected during lung cancer screening?

Lung nodules are common, but there are different courses of screening, observation and treatment based on the size and rate of growth. Watch pulmonologist Brian Gelbman, MD, discuss the various options and details involved in treating lung nodules.

Transcript

00:00

Frequently, if we want to determine if a nodule could be cancer, what we look for is to see if this nodule is growing over time.

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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If a patient should have a CAT scan for screening against lung cancer, it's common that we would find a lung nodule.

00:20

In fact, if you screen everyone, 50% of patients will have a nodule of some kind. The next step generally depends on the size of the nodule

00:28

and the patient's risk factors. Frequently, if we want to determine if a nodule could be cancer, what we look for is to see if this nodule is

00:35

growing over time. This means the patients will need another follow-up CAT scan at a set interval. It can be three months.

00:42

It can be six months. It can be one year. And at that interval, we'll be looking to see if the nodule is changing in size.

00:49

For nodules that are highly suspicious, they may be referred for a PET scan to see if there's any abnormal activity in that nodule.

00:56

Alternatively, for our most suspicious nodules, a patient may be referred directly to a biopsy of the nodule.

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Biopsies can be performed either by a CAT scan-guided procedure, where someone lays on a CAT scan table,

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and a needle is inserted through the chest, directly into the nodule. Or it can be biopsied through a bronchoscopy, where a camera is

01:16

placed through the airway and out through the lungs to biopsy the nodule. Only biopsies can determine whether nodules are or are not

01:23

cancer. Ultimately, if a nodule is found to be cancer, there are many different treatment options that may be available.

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In general, this can include surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Patients will speak to their doctor

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and may need a referral to either a surgeon who specializes in thoracic surgery, a medical oncologist,

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or a radiation oncologist. [AUDIO LOGO]