Lung Screening

Lung screenings look for lung cancer in people most at risk for lung cancer, specifically smokers, using a low-dose CT scan.

At UM St. Joseph, our pulmonary team performs lung screenings and carefully reviews the results to find the disease early — before symptoms begin — when treatment is most successful.

Who Should Be Screened for Lung Cancer?

Screening for lung cancer is recommended if:

• You are age 50 to 80 years old, and
• You do not have any signs or symptoms of lung cancer, and
• You have a smoking history of at least one pack a day for 20 years, and
• You are a current smoker or have quit within last 15 years

If you meet all four of these requirements or your doctor has referred you for a screening, call 410-832-3400.

To help you decide if you might need a screening, take our health risk quiz.

Take our Lung Cancer Risk Assessment

Even if you are younger than 50 or don't meet all the smoking criteria, you may still be eligible for lung screening if you have other risk factors. These include:

• Exposure to harmful workplace substances
• A prior cancer diagnosis
• Family history of lung cancer
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your doctor about getting a referral for a lung screening. You also may want to take our lung cancer risk assessment to better understand your lung health needs.

Providers: To refer a patient for a lung screening, call 410-832-3400. You may also fax a referral to 410-494-1718.

What to Expect

The experts at UM SJMG – Pulmonary Care and Sleep Medicine offer comprehensive lung care, guidance and support for patients at high risk for developing lung cancer.

A low-dose CT scan is a quick and painless way to assess your lung health. This special X-ray takes multiple images of your lungs, providing a detailed view that can help identify any potential issues.

This screening, which usually takes less than 15 minutes, is at Advanced Radiology Imaging Center at UM St. Joseph Medical Center.

What Happens Next?

• Negative Results: If the scan finds nothing unusual, we'll inform you and we will also recommend when to schedule your next screening to continue monitoring your lung health.
• Positive Results: Any abnormalities will be reviewed by our team of specialists. We'll discuss the results with you directly or with your doctor if you were referred by one.

If you are diagnosed with lung cancer and need further treatment or surgery, you can receive care at the Cancer Institute at UM St. Joseph Medical Center.

Does Insurance Cover the Cost?

Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover lung screenings. However, it's best to check with your provider to be sure. If you do not have insurance, call us at 410-832-3400 to discuss out-of-pocket costs