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. Un crecimiento más grande se considera una masa pulmonar, y es más probable que sea canceroso. Nodules are found in up to half of adults who get a chest X-ray or CT scan, according to the American Thoracic Society.

Los especialistas certificados de Norton Pulmonary Specialists tienen la experiencia y la formación para brindar un diagnóstico preciso de los nódulos pulmonares. 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.

¿Qué es un nódulo pulmonar?

Los nódulos pulmonares son pequeños crecimientos de tejido rodeados de tejido sano, y serán evidentes en una radiografía de tórax o una tomografía computarizada.

El tejido cicatricial, una infección curada o un irritante del aire pueden causar un nódulo pulmonar.

When to Worry About Lung Nodules

Muy pocos nódulos pulmonares son cancerosos. La probabilidad de cáncer aumenta si usted es mayor, si el nódulo es más grande, si es o ha sido fumador de cigarrillos o si tiene otros riesgos de cáncer, como antecedentes familiares o exposición al asbesto.

Vigilaremos el nódulo para observar su crecimiento con el tiempo. Realizaremos tomografías computarizadas periódicas para seguir el tamaño del nódulo. Los nódulos benignos generalmente no crecen. 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.

Atención conveniente para usted

• 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.
• Tenemos siete ubicaciones convenientes en la zona de Louisville: 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.
• El programa de rehabilitación pulmonar de Norton Healthcare tiene tres ubicaciones en Louisville y está certificado por la Asociación Americana de Rehabilitación Cardiovascular y Pulmonar.
• We work as a team with referring physicians, including pediatricians.
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans are accepted.

Acerca de Norton Pulmonary Specialists

The board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians with Norton Pulmonary Specialists are leaders in caring for Louisville and Southern Indiana patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (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, so you can get the care you need.
• The Norton Pulmonary Specialists team pursues leading-edge treatments, and our specialists are investigators on many clinical trials that give patients access to the latest treatments.
• Our specialists use robotic-assisted bronchoscopy to perform minimally invasive biopsies of the lung, which allows for greater precision during the important diagnostic procedure.  
• Norton Pulmonary Specialists está acreditado por el Colegio Americano de Médicos de Tórax, la Sociedad Torácica Americana, el Colegio Americano de Médicos y la Academia Americana de Medicina del Sueño.
• Nuestros proveedores le darán un diagnóstico preciso y desarrollarán un plan de tratamiento personalizado para su afección pulmonar para que pueda volver a vivir bien.
• For asthma, your physician will work with you to develop a written asthma action plan to help you manage your symptoms.
• 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.