A lung nodule is a small, round growth in the lung sometimes called a “spot on the lung.” Most are benign, but may represent an early sign of disease and possibly early-stage lung cancer.

Lung nodules can form when inflamed lung tissue from an infection or other illness forms a clump of cells that can harden. Lung nodules also can be an abnormal but harmless growth of cells. Less commonly, lung nodules can be early-stage malignant tumors.

Nodules are smaller than 3 centimeters or 1.2 inches. A growth larger than that is considered a pulmonary mass and is more likely to be cancerous. Nodules are found in up to half of adults who get a chest X-ray or CT scan, according to the American Thoracic Society.

The board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists at Norton Pulmonary Specialists have the experience and training to provide a precise diagnosis of lung nodules. If treatment is necessary, they’ll develop a customized plan for your care.

The Norton Pulmonary Specialists team works together to collaborate on your case. It also works with specialists across the Norton Healthcare system to collect viewpoints from other physicians when necessary. Whether you need to manage symptoms or require aggressive treatment for cancer, we have the resources to take care of you.

What Is a Lung Nodule?

Lung nodules are small overgrowths of tissue surrounded by healthy tissue and will be apparent in a chest X-ray or CT scan.

Scar tissue, a healed infection or an irritant from the air can cause a lung nodule.

When to Worry About Lung Nodules

Very few lung nodules are cancerous. Likelihood of cancer increases if you are older, if the nodule is larger, if you are or have been a cigarette smoker or have other cancer risks such as a family history or asbestos exposure.

We’ll monitor your nodule to watch for growth over time. We’ll conduct regular CT scans to track the size of your nodule. Benign nodules usually don’t grow. If a nodule stays the same for two years, the chances of cancer are very low.

In some cases, we’ll need to take a biopsy of the nodule with a needle or a surgical procedure. Minimally invasive lung biopsies, using robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, allow our specialists to reach nodules on more parts of the lung, sometimes avoiding major surgery. Without the risks that come with major surgery, robotic-assisted bronchoscopy allows our specialists to perform more biopsies and increase the chances of identifying cancerous nodules at a very early stage when they are most treatable.

Care That’s Convenient for You

• Norton Pulmonary Specialists is recognized by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association as an accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center — the only one in Kentucky. This distinction highlights our physicians’ expertise in pulmonary hypertension, especially pulmonary arterial hypertension, and their commitment to improving care and outcomes for patients with this life-threatening condition.
• Our staff includes interventional pulmonologists who are trained and experienced in minimally invasive diagnostics and treatment, including robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, meaning you’ll have access to advanced technology for your care.
• We have seven convenient Louisville-area locations: Northeastern Louisville, downtown Louisville, Newburg, Pleasure Ridge Park and Mount Washington, Kentucky; in Southern Indiana, Jeffersonville and Scottsburg.
• We provide pulmonary care and respiratory management of critical care patients at Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital.
• Norton Healthcare’s pulmonary rehabilitation program has three locations in Louisville and is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
• We work as a team with referring physicians, including pediatricians.
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans are accepted.

About Norton Pulmonary Specialists

The board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians with Norton Pulmonary Specialists, formerly Chest Medicine Associates and Kentuckiana Pulmonary Associates, are leaders in caring for Louisville and Southern Indiana patients with asthma, COPD, emphysema and other lung diseases.

• Norton Healthcare is recognized by U.S. News & World Report on its “Best Hospitals” list as No. 1 in the Louisville area, with a “high performing” rating in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through Norton Pulmonary Specialists.  
• Norton Pulmonary Specialists is recognized by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association as an accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center — the only one in Kentucky. This distinction highlights our physicians’ expertise in pulmonary hypertension, especially pulmonary arterial hypertension, and their commitment to improving care and outcomes for patients with this life-threatening condition.
• Our staff includes interventional pulmonologists who are trained and experienced in minimally invasive diagnostics and treatment, including robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, meaning you’ll have access to advanced technology for your care.
• We have seven convenient Louisville-area locations: Northeastern Louisville, downtown Louisville, Newburg, Pleasure Ridge Park and Mount Washington, Kentucky; in Southern Indiana, Jeffersonville and Scottsburg.
• We provide pulmonary care and respiratory management of critical care patients at Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital.
• Norton Healthcare’s pulmonary rehabilitation program has three locations in Louisville and is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
• We work as a team with referring physicians, including pediatricians.
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans are accepted.
• Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free Norton MyChart account.