Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Expert Evaluation, Early Detection, and Collaborative Care

At Columbus Regional Health, we offer a comprehensive and collaborative approach to diagnosing lung cancer. Our patients have access to a multidisciplinary team of experts—including pulmonologists, oncologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and radiologists—all working together to ensure accurate diagnosis and timely care, close to home.

Early Detection with Low-Dose CT Screening

One of the most powerful tools in the fight against lung cancer is low-dose CT (LDCT) lung screening, which can detect small nodules in the lungs before symptoms arise. Detecting lung cancer in its earliest stages significantly improves survival rates and opens the door to more treatment options.

LDCT screening is recommended for high-risk individuals—such as long-term smokers or those with a history of tobacco use. If a nodule or abnormality is found, further imaging or testing may be recommended to determine if the finding is benign, pre-cancerous, or cancerous.

Interventional Pulmonology: Advanced Procedures for Diagnosis and Care

Our lung program features board-certified interventional pulmonologists who use state-of-the-art technology to detect cancer earlier and manage complex lung conditions:

• Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy (ENB) – GPS-like guidance lets physicians biopsy hard-to-reach nodules without surgery.
• Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) – Combines bronchoscopy with ultrasound to sample lymph nodes and masses for rapid staging.
• Pleural Procedures (thoracentesis, PleurX catheter placement, pleurodesis) – Relieve fluid buildup and improve breathing comfort.
• Airway Stenting & Balloon Dilation – Open obstructed airways, easing symptoms and improving quality of life.

These minimally invasive tools reduce hospital stays, speed recovery, and often eliminate the need for more invasive diagnostic surgery.

Lung Nodule Review Board: A Team Approach to Diagnosis

Our Lung Nodule Review Board is a unique, patient-centered resource made up of five medical specialties that meet weekly to review all lung screening CT scans. This collaborative model allows each patient case to be evaluated from multiple expert perspectives at once—ensuring a thorough and balanced approach to diagnosis.

Board members collectively review:

• Imaging results
• Medical history
• Risk factors
• Nodule characteristics
• Recommendations for next steps, which may include observation, biopsy, or referral for treatment

By uniting expertise across disciplines, the Lung Nodule Review Board helps patients receive a more accurate diagnosis, quicker answers, and a personalized care plan designed around their unique needs.

Treatment Options

Depending on your diagnosis and overall health, your care team may recommend one or a combination of the following therapies.

Surgery

Common lung procedures include wedge resection, segmentectomy, lobectomy, and pneumonectomy. While many centers now perform these operations with minimally invasive techniques such as VATS or robotic surgery, CRH currently partners with regional surgical programs when those approaches are the best fit for a patient. Your thoracic surgeon will guide you through the options and coordinate any necessary referrals to ensure the best outcome.

Learn more about Surgical Oncology

Radiation Oncology

Our radiation-oncology team offers multiple external-beam technologies, tailoring the plan to tumor size and location:

• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) – sculpts the beam to spare healthy tissue.
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) – delivers high-dose, pinpoint treatments in as few as five sessions, ideal for small early-stage tumors or for patients who aren’t surgical candidates.
• Standard external-beam radiation for broader fields when needed.

Learn more about Radiation Therapy

Medical Oncology

Systemic treatments help eradicate cancer cells that have spread beyond the lung:

• Chemotherapy – often given with radiation or surgery.
• Targeted Therapy – blocks growth signals in tumors with specific gene mutations.
• Immunotherapy – medications such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) train your immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, now a cornerstone of advanced lung-cancer care.

Your medical oncologist will craft a regimen based on the cancer’s genetic profile, stage, and your personal goals.

Support Throughout Your Journey

Navigating a lung cancer diagnosis can be complex—but you won’t have to do it alone. At Columbus Regional Health, we offer a dedicated Lung Cancer Nurse Navigator to guide you through every stage of care.

From the moment a suspicious nodule is found, your nurse navigator will help:

• Coordinate appointments across specialties
• Explain test results and next steps in plain language
• Connect you with support services such as financial counseling, nutrition, smoking cessation, or palliative care
• Serve as a consistent point of contact throughout your diagnosis and treatment

With specialized expertise in lung cancer, your nurse navigator makes the process more manageable—and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.