Most lung spots found on CT scans are harmless, and advanced minimally invasive technologies now enable faster, more accurate lung cancer diagnosis.
Hearing that your CT scan has revealed a spot on your lung can be frightening. For many people, the immediate fear is lung cancer. However, on World Lung Cancer Day, experts want to reassure patients that most lung nodules detected on scans are not cancer, and today’s advanced diagnostic technologies can determine the cause without major surgery.
According to Dr. Shyam Krishnan, Lead Consultant, Clinical and Interventional Pulmonology at CMRI (CK Birla Hospitals), Kolkata, a lung “spot,” “shadow,” or “nodule” is a common finding on CT scans and often turns out to be harmless. “The fear is understandable. It is also, very often, unfounded. Here is the first thing I tell them: most lung nodules picked up on a scan are not cancer,” said Dr. Krishnan.
Most lung nodules are not cancer
A pulmonary nodule is a small, round growth in the lung that can appear during routine health check-ups or imaging performed for unrelated reasons. While some nodules may indicate early lung cancer, many are caused by healed infections, old scars from previous illnesses, benign inflammatory changes, and harmless tissue growths. “The goal is not to assume the worst but to determine exactly what the nodule is,” says Dr. Krishnan.
Identifying suspicious nodules early allows doctors to begin treatment when lung cancer is most curable, while reassuring patients whose scans reveal non-cancerous changes.
Diagnosing lung nodules has become much less invasive
In the past, diagnosing a suspicious lung nodule often required major chest surgery simply to obtain a tissue sample. Today, advances in interventional pulmonology have transformed that process.
One of the most important innovations is Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS), a minimally invasive procedure performed through the airways. EBUS allows doctors to collect tissue samples and determine whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes- all without making surgical incisions. For nodules located deep in the outer areas of the lungs, specialists now use AI-driven navigation bronchoscopy combined with cone-beam CT imaging.
“This advanced technology acts like a GPS navigation system for the lungs, guiding tiny instruments with millimetre-level precision directly to difficult-to-reach nodules. Doctors can obtain accurate biopsies without opening the chest, reducing complications and speeding up recovery,” said Dr. Krishnan.
Why is early diagnosis important?
If a lung nodule is cancerous, identifying it early dramatically improves treatment options and survival outcomes. Modern imaging and minimally invasive biopsy techniques allow doctors to:
- Diagnose lung cancer earlier
- Determine how far the disease has spread
- Develop personalized treatment plans
- Avoid unnecessary surgery for benign nodules
Do not ignore a lung spot – but don’t panic either
Experts stress that finding a lung spot should never be ignored, especially in people with a history of smoking, long-term air pollution exposure, occupational chemical exposure, or a family history of lung cancer. However, it is equally important not to assume the worst. Consulting an experienced pulmonologist ensures that the nodule is evaluated using the most appropriate imaging and biopsy techniques before any treatment decisions are made.
