Lung Cancer Screening

The nationally-ranked lung cancer program at Duke uses the latest digital imaging technology to screen for and detect lung cancer at the earliest possible stage. We use the most advanced diagnostic screening tool, low-dose CT scans. Low-dose CT is a fast, safe and non-invasive study that collects 3-D images of the lungs. These 3-D images show early-stage lung cancers that may be too small to be detected by a traditional chest X-ray. We offer appointments for lung cancer screening at convenient locations in Raleigh and Durham.

Shirley Sulick got screened for lung cancer which caught her cancer early and may have saved her life.

Detecting Lung Cancer Early

Our comprehensive screening services address an urgent need for improved lung cancer screening and early diagnosis when lung disease is most treatable. Screening may be appropriate for anyone with the following risk factors:

Age 50 years or older
Has had 20 or more years of smoking history
Has been exposed to a cancer-causing substance such as radon, asbestos, silica, or another carcinogen
Has a personal history of prior lymphoma or a smoking-related tumor
Has a family history of lung cancer
Has COPD or pulmonary fibrosis

Getting a lung cancer screening with low-dose CT puts you in control of your health and greatly increases your chances that lung cancer will be detected early. If you have a family history of, or risk factors for lung cancer, your physician may recommend you undergo more frequent lung cancer imaging or tests.

Choose Duke for Your Lung Cancer Screening

Together, our board-certified radiologists, facilities and CT scanners at Duke University Hospital, Duke Medicine Pavilion and the Duke Cancer Center comprise one of the only American College of Radiology accredited lung cancer screening programs in the Triangle. Our scanners have undergone rigorous testing to ensure they use the lowest possible radiation doses while maintaining the highest image quality. ACR accreditation is given to programs who have met these rigorous standards, and are run by board-certified radiologists with subspecialty training in lung cancer screening and detection.
Our pulmonology program is ranked in the top five in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. We are the only medical center in North Carolina staffed with lung cancer experts who provide a full range of treatment options in the same clinic, five days a week.
Our low-dose CT scan is the most advanced diagnostic tool available today. It provides detailed results that may not be seen on traditional X-rays. The 2011 National Lung Screening Trial showed a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer-related deaths among people at high risk for developing lung cancer who were screened with low-dose CT scans compared to those who were screened with standard chest X-rays.
You learn your results during your appointment, not days later.
We offer smoking cessation evaluation, pulmonary rehabilitation, counseling and support programs to help educate and prevent lung cancer.
You can access the latest technological advances in lung cancer screening at our locations in Durham and Raleigh.
If you are diagnosed with lung cancer, you will have immediate access to our lung cancer treatment experts, which includes a personalized treatment plan, advanced medical and surgical care, access to clinical trials, and the full spectrum of patient and family support.