Lung Cancer Screening & Nodule Management
Whether a lung nodule was found incidentally on imaging or you have risk factors that make screening appropriate, Dr. Abdallah provides a clear, structured path forward.
Lung nodule management: Most lung nodules turn out to be benign, but appropriate follow-up matters. Dr. Abdallah reviews your imaging and risk factors and determines the right next step, which may include:
Monitoring with repeat imaging at appropriate intervals
Blood-based risk stratification testing (Nodify by Biodesix) to help clarify the likelihood that a nodule is benign or requires further workup
Additional imaging (such as PET scan) to better characterize a nodule
Biopsy via bronchoscopy or EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound) when tissue diagnosis is needed
Blood-based nodule risk assessment: For certain patients with a newly found lung nodule, Dr. Abdallah offers Nodify testing, a blood-based tool that helps assess the likelihood that a nodule is benign. This additional data point can help guide the decision between watchful monitoring and more invasive evaluation, sparing some patients from unnecessary procedures.
Lung cancer screening: For patients with a significant smoking history, low-dose CT screening can catch lung cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage. Dr. Abdallah assesses whether you meet screening criteria, coordinates the screening study, and reviews results with you.
If further evaluation is needed: When a nodule or finding requires tissue sampling, Dr. Abdallah performs advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy, including EBUS, to obtain the samples needed for diagnosis — often avoiding the need for a more invasive surgical procedure.
When further referral is needed: For patients with early-stage lung cancer, Dr. Abdallah coordinates referral to thoracic surgery for evaluation of surgical resection, which remains a primary treatment option at earlier stages. For more complex cases — such as nodules or masses that are difficult to access, or situations requiring advanced diagnostic or therapeutic procedures — Dr. Abdallah refers patients to interventional pulmonology specialists for further evaluation and management.
Why this matters: These procedures allow many patients to be diagnosed and, when appropriate, referred for the next stage of care without unnecessary delay — whether that's straightforward monitoring, additional testing, or referral to a surgical or interventional specialist best suited to their specific case.