Lung Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

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Exams and tests to look for lung cancer

If your doctor thinks you might have lung cancer based on the results of a screening test or because of symptoms you are having, he or she will do exams and tests to find out for sure.

Medical history and physical exam

Your doctor will want to take a medical history to check for any risk factors and to learn more about any symptoms you are having. Your doctor will also examine you for signs of lung cancer or other health problems.

If the results of the history and physical exam suggest you might have lung cancer, more involved tests will be done (see below).

Tests that might be used to look for lung cancer

Sputum cytology


Chest x-ray


Computed tomography (CT) scan





Further tests if you have an abnormal screening test result

It is common for a low-dose CT scan of the lungs to show small, abnormal areas (called nodules or masses) in the lungs, especially in current or former smokers. Most lung nodules seen on CT scans are not cancer. They are more often the result of old infections, scar tissue, or other causes. But tests are often needed to be sure a nodule is not cancer.

Most often the next step is to get a repeat CT scan to see if the nodule is growing over time. The time between scans might range anywhere from about a month to a year, depending on how likely your doctor thinks it is that the nodule could be cancer. This is based on the size, shape, and location of the nodule, as well as whether it appears to be solid or filled with fluid. If the nodule is larger, your doctor might also want to get another type of imaging test called a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, which can often help tell if it is cancer.

If the second scan shows that the nodule has grown, or if the nodule has other concerning features, your doctor will want to get a sample of it to check it for cancer cells (called a biopsy). This can be done in different ways:

  • The doctor might pass a long, thin tube (called a bronchoscope) down your throat and into the airways of your lung to reach the nodule. A small, hollow needle on the end of the bronchoscope can be used to get a sample of the nodule.
  • If the nodule is in the outer part of the lung, the doctor might pass a thin, hollow needle through the skin of the chest wall and into the nodule to get a biopsy sample.
  • If there is a higher chance that the nodule is cancer (or if the nodule can’t be biopsied with a needle), surgery might be done to remove the nodule and some surrounding lung tissue. Sometimes larger parts of the lung might be removed at the same time as well.

These types of tests, biopsies, and surgeries are described in more detail in our documents Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell) and Lung Cancer (Small Cell) as are the options for treatment if lung cancer is found.

Further tests if you have possible signs or symptoms of lung cancer

If your doctor is concerned you might have lung cancer because of signs or symptoms you are having, a chest x-ray or chest CT scan to look for tumors in the lung is likely to be the next step. Other tests that might be done include having you cough up sputum (phlegm) to have it looked at for cancer cells, or having a bronchoscopy, where the doctor puts a long, thin tube down your throat and into your lungs to look for anything abnormal.

If any of these tests are suspicious for cancer, further tests such as a biopsy or even surgery will likely be needed to get samples from any tumors.

These tests and procedures are described in more detail in our documents Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell) and Lung Cancer (Small Cell), along with the options for treatment if lung cancer is found.

Last Medical Review: 08/22/2014
Last Revised: 02/06/2015