Lung Cancer Screening
Lung screening has the potential to detect lung cancer at earlier stages when it has the best chance of being cured. Learn more in this video from Jo-Anne Shepard, MD, Thoracic Radiologist at the Mass General Cancer Center.
Safe Care CommitmentGet the latest news on COVID-19, the vaccine and care at Mass General.Learn more
The Pulmonary Nodule Clinic's multidisciplinary team of specialists work with patients to develop personalized follow-up care following review of chest CT scans.
Answers to FAQs about our Pulmonary Nodule Clinic, by the clinic's expert team of multidisciplinary specialists.
You have been referred to the Pulmonary Nodule Clinic because a nodule was detected on a CT scan of your chest. The CT scan could have been either a:
The Pulmonary Nodule Clinic watches and evaluates nodules found from both types of scans.
Having a nodule does not mean that you have cancer or that you will develop cancer.
The nodules seen in the pulmonary module clinic measure between 6 and 20 millimeters (mm).
6 mm is about the size of a pencil eraser.
20 mm is about the size of a penny from top to bottom.
Most pulmonary nodules are not cancerous. If a nodule is an early developing cancer, it has the best chance of being cured if it is detected and treated as early as possible.
We bring a highly specialized team of thoracic physicians including oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, and pulmonologists together in a conference to review your imaging and history. We review your CT scan images and compare with any other CT scans you may have had. We look for any changes in development or resolution of irregularities seen on the scans. The team together identifies the best next step in monitoring or treating your nodule.
Meeting in a conference reduces how many appointments you have because all specialists are together at one time. If your nodule needs to be treated, there will not be a delay in treatment.
Once we receive a referral from your doctor, our nurse navigator will contact you to complete an intake. The intake helps us to learn more about your history, the reason for your CT scan and any prior CT scans that you may have had. If you have been referred to the Pulmonary Nodule Clinic, but have not yet heard from our nurse, please call us at 617-643-8728.
Yes! If you have had a CT scan which reveals a nodule measuring 6 mm or more, please call our nurse navigator to complete an intake. We will ask that you send us your imaging and records for review. We will then schedule an appointment in the clinic. We do require that your CT scan be completed within the past year. If it was done more than one year ago, we suggest you follow up with your primary care doctor to obtain more current imaging.
If you are not yet registered as a patient at Mass General, please call 866-211-6588 to obtain a medical record number.
The Story Project is our effort to capture the stories from the people in our Mass General Cancer Center community.
Our support programs can help patients and their families cope with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
Lung screening has the potential to detect lung cancer at earlier stages when it has the best chance of being cured. Learn more in this video from Jo-Anne Shepard, MD, Thoracic Radiologist at the Mass General Cancer Center.