At Corewell's Lung Nodule Clinic:

• experts provide early diagnosis and expedited care for lung nodules
• a nurse navigator will assist your patient in scheduling all necessary appointments and consultations, as well as keep you updated with written  reports
• your patient will meet with a pulmonary specialist who will recommend a plan of care
• all testing and  follow-up  care for the Lung Nodule Clinic are scheduled by our team

What is a lung nodule?

A lung nodule is an abnormality in the lung that is smaller than 3 centimeters in diameter. A lung nodule must grow to at least 1 centimeter (size of a pea) in diameter before it can be seen on a chest X-ray. CT scans can detect nodules less than 1 centimeter in size. Lung nodules are surrounded by normal lung tissue and are not associated with any other abnormality in the lung or nearby lymph nodes.

What are the causes of a lung nodule?

• histoplasmosis – the most common cause; a fungus commonly found in soil in the Midwest
• fungal infections – including coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, cryptococcosis and nocardiosis
• neoplastic (cancers) – an abnormal growth that can be either benign or malignant, including lung cancer, metastasis, lymphoma, carcinoid, hamartoma, fibroma, blastoma, neurofibroma or sarcoma
• congenital – something you are born with, such as arteriovenous malformation or lung cystartifacts
• other causes – including pulmonary infarct, atelectasis, mucoid impaction, tuberculosis, granuloma, lung abscess, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, lipoid, Wegener’s granulomatosis