Experienced Specialists Treating Lung Nodules

Norton Pulmonary Specialists is a leader in treating lung conditions such as lung nodules for patients in Louisville and Southern Indiana.

A lung nodule is a small, round growth in the lung sometimes referred to as a “spot on the lung.” Most are benign.

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 computed tomography (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 case.

Norton Pulmonary Specialists work together as a team to collaborate on your case. They also work with specialists across the Norton Healthcare system to collect viewpoints from other physicians when necessary. Whether you need symptom management or 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.

Are Lung Nodules Serious?

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 it 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 surgery.

Care That’s Convenient for You

• Our staff includes interventional pulmonologists who are trained and experienced in minimally invasive diagnostics and treatment.
• We have seven convenient Louisville-area locations: Northeastern and downtown Louisville; Newburg; Pleasure Ridge Park; Mount Washington, Kentucky; Jeffersonville, Indiana; and Scottsburg, Indiana.
• We provide pulmonary care and respiratory management of critical care patients at all four Norton Healthcare adult-service hospitals: Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital, Norton Hospital and Norton Women’s & Children’s 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 have an open line of communication with referring physicians, including pediatricians, to provide the most comprehensive care possible.
• Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free MyNortonChart

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.

• More than two dozen board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians with extensive experience specialize in diagnosis and management of all forms of lung diseases and sleep disorders.
• The Norton Pulmonary Specialists team pursues leading-edge treatments as part of its pioneering heritage. Our specialists are investigators on many clinical trials that give patients access to the latest treatments.
• Norton Pulmonary Specialists is accredited by the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society, the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
• Our providers will give you a precise diagnosis and develop a customized treatment plan for your lung condition, so you can get back to living your best life.
• Your physician will work with you to develop a written asthma action plan to help you manage your symptoms.