Lung Nodule Service

The Respiratory Department provides a dedicated Lung Nodule Pathway led by Dr Peter Wills. The service offers expert assessment, investigation, and follow-up of patients found to have lung nodules on chest imaging.

Lung nodules are small spots or shadows seen on a chest X-ray or CT scan. They are common and are often identified incidentally during scans performed for other reasons. Most lung nodules are not cancerous and may represent previous infections, inflammation, scarring, or other benign conditions. However, some nodules require careful assessment and monitoring to exclude early lung cancer.

The Lung Nodule Service provides a structured and evidence-based pathway in line with national guidance, including British Thoracic Society (BTS) recommendations. Patients referred into the pathway undergo specialist review of imaging, risk assessment, and where appropriate, discussion within the Lung Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).

The service works closely with the Radiology Department, the Lung Cancer CNS team and regional centres to ensure timely access to further investigations where required. These may include:

  • CT chest imaging
  • Interval surveillance CT scans
  • PET-CT scanning (performed at Mount Vernon Hospital)
  • Bronchoscopy
  • EBUS (performed at Harefield Hospital)
  • CT-guided biopsy
  • Surgical assessment where appropriate

Many patients can be safely monitored with interval CT scans alone, avoiding unnecessary invasive procedures. Patients requiring further investigation are guided through the pathway by the specialist respiratory and lung cancer teams.

The service aims to:

  • Detect lung cancer at an earlier and more treatable stage
  • Reduce unnecessary invasive investigations
  • Provide timely specialist review and decision-making
  • Deliver coordinated patient-centred care
  • Support rapid access to diagnostics and MDT discussion

Patients are usually referred to the Lung Nodule Pathway following:

  • An abnormal chest X-ray
  • Incidental findings on CT scans
  • Referral from primary care
  • Findings identified during other hospital investigations

The Respiratory Department recognises that being told you have a lung nodule can be worrying. Our team is committed to providing clear communication, timely investigations, and specialist support throughout the pathway.

Contact the Team

If you have a question about your clinic appointment or a general enquiry:
Nodule Clinics & Respiratory Team -  01895 279 266