Lung Cancer Screening & Diagnosis

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in America, but now there's more hope. Screening detects lung cancer early, when it’s more curable.

The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute team screens lung cancer with a low-dose CT scan that uses X-rays, or radiation, to create detailed pictures of your body. Screening won't prevent cancer and it may not find all lung cancers, but research shows that if people at higher risk are screened every year, they're less likely to die from lung cancer.


Who Needs Screening?

Most insurance companies will cover the cost of lung cancer screening. You should get an annual lung cancer screening if you are 50 to 80 years old:

  • And have a smoking history of at least 20 pack years.
  • And you still smoke, or you quit within the last 15 years.
  • And you are in good overall health overall. Having a serious health problem might mean you couldn't receive treatment for lung cancer. The treatment could be risky and might not help you live longer.


What Is a Pack Year?

To figure out your pack years, multiply how many packs of cigarettes (20 cigarettes per pack) you smoke each day by how many years you have smoked.  

For example:

  • If you smoked one pack a day for 15 years, that's one times 15 for a smoking history of 15 pack years.
  • If you smoked 1.5 packs a day for 20 years, that's 1.5 times 20 for a smoking history of 30 pack years.
  • If you smoked two packs a day for 15 years, that's two times 15 for a smoking history of 30 pack years.

The Cancer Institute’s extensive outreach program connects underserved populations with needed screening for various types of cancer, including lung. The program offers eligible people free screening at Hartford HealthCare hospitals.

For more information, call 860.972.0511.


What to Expect During Lung Cancer Screening

If you meet the high-risk criteria, your doctor will talk with you about lung cancer screening. If you are eligible and would like to be screened, your doctor will refer you for a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan.

The screening center staff tells you how to prepare for your scan. Be sure to mention if you have a respiratory infection, as it might affect the scan results. When you arrive, remove any metal such as jewelry or a watch.

The scan itself is painless and takes less than a minute. You recline on the scanner table and must stay as still as possible as it slides in and out of the scanner. You may be asked to hold your breath.

Your doctor will contact you with the results.


Meet our Lung Cancer Screening Specialists:

Name Specialties Location
Alekshun, Todd Joseph, MD Alekshun, Todd Joseph, MD
4.8 /5
71 surveys
860.674.0088
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Medical Oncology
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  • Avon
  • Manchester
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Alsamarai, Susan, MD Alsamarai, Susan, MD
4.9 /5
272 surveys
203.238.7747
  • Medical Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Meriden
Aujla, Amandeep, MD Aujla, Amandeep, MD
4.8 /5
149 surveys
860.443.4455
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Medical Oncology
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  • Waterford
  • Norwich
  • Norwich
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Bertsch, Helaine Fannie, MD Bertsch, Helaine Fannie, MD 860.972.2803
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Hartford
Blakaj, Adriana, MD, PhD Blakaj, Adriana, MD, PhD 860.972.2803
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Hartford
Byeff, Peter David, MD Byeff, Peter David, MD
4.8 /5
210 surveys
860.621.9316
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Southington
  • Bristol
  • New Britain
  • Plainville
  • Southington
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Cannan, Catherine Joanna, APRN, NP-C Cannan, Catherine Joanna, APRN, NP-C
4.9 /5
119 surveys
860.224.4408
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Plainville
  • New Britain
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Chaudhary, Ahmed Aziz, MD Chaudhary, Ahmed Aziz, MD 860.545.2803
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Norwich
Chu, Benjamin, MD Chu, Benjamin, MD
4.9 /5
154 surveys
860.972.4183
  • Medical Oncology
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Avon
  • Manchester
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Dhanjal, Sandhya A., MD Dhanjal, Sandhya A., MD
4.9 /5
388 surveys
203.255.4545
  • Medical Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Fairfield
  • Bridgeport
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Dowsett, Robert James, MD Dowsett, Robert James, MD 860.545.2803
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Hartford
Fumo, Gerard, DO Fumo, Gerard, DO
4.9 /5
401 surveys
203.238.7747
  • Medical Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Meriden
Giove, Lawrence M., MD Giove, Lawrence M., MD 860.246.6647
  • Medical Oncology
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Wethersfield
Godfrey, Mark Spencer, MD Godfrey, Mark Spencer, MD
4.9 /5
62 surveys
860.696.4306
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Thoracic Surgery
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  • Hartford
Gorusu, Madhavi, MD Gorusu, Madhavi, MD
4.8 /5
168 surveys
860.496.6825
  • Medical Oncology
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Torrington
Hosmer, Wylie David, MD Hosmer, Wylie David, MD
4.9 /5
340 surveys
860.621.9316
  • Medical Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Southington
  • Bristol
  • New Britain
  • Plainville
  • Southington
Show Less
Jaliawala, Huzaifa, MD Jaliawala, Huzaifa, MD
4.4 /5
33 surveys
860.496.9669
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Critical Care Medicine
Show Less
  • Torrington
Katigbak, Mario Winn, MD Katigbak, Mario Winn, MD
4.9 /5
250 surveys
860.696.4306
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Hartford
  • Bloomfield
  • Manchester
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Khan, Anwar Mangey, MD Khan, Anwar Mangey, MD 860.224.5011
  • Radiation Oncology
  • New Britain
Kim, Susan Y., MD Kim, Susan Y., MD 860.545.2803
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Hartford
  • Norwich
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Leopold, Kenneth Albert, MD Leopold, Kenneth Albert, MD 860.972.2803
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Hartford
McArdle, John Raymond, MD McArdle, John Raymond, MD 860.547.1876
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Hartford
  • Glastonbury
  • Wethersfield
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Nadkarni, Rajani P., MD Nadkarni, Rajani P., MD
4.9 /5
270 surveys
203.238.7747
  • Medical Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Meriden
Nuzzi, Rachel, PA-C Nuzzi, Rachel, PA-C 860.696.4306
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Hartford
Olugbile, Sope, MD Olugbile, Sope, MD
4.8 /5
279 surveys
860.972.4183
  • Medical Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Hartford
  • Willimantic
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Perkins, Michael Edward, MD Perkins, Michael Edward, MD
4.9 /5
177 surveys
860.524.4550
  • Pulmonary Disease
  • Critical Care Medicine
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  • Enfield
  • Colchester
  • Glastonbury
  • Hartford
  • Manchester
Show Less
Pope, James S., MD Pope, James S., MD
5.0 /5
248 surveys
860.524.4550
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Tolland
  • Enfield
  • Hartford
  • Manchester
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Popli, Pallvi, MD Popli, Pallvi, MD
4.8 /5
63 surveys
860.972.4183
  • Medical Oncology
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Willimantic
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Russomanno, John Herman, MD Russomanno, John Herman, MD 860.246.6647
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Bloomfield
  • Enfield
  • New Britain
  • Wethersfield
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Rutter, Charles E., MD Rutter, Charles E., MD 860.972.2803
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Hartford
Shah, Tejal Parth P., MD Shah, Tejal Parth P., MD
4.8 /5
88 surveys
860.827.2710
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
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  • New Britain
Sharma, Vipra, MD, MPH Sharma, Vipra, MD, MPH
4.8 /5
183 surveys
203.382.2475
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Bridgeport
  • Fairfield
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Shore, Eric Thomas, MD Shore, Eric Thomas, MD 860.246.6647
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Bloomfield
Van Backer, Justin, MD Van Backer, Justin, MD
4.7 /5
52 surveys
860.696.4923
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • General Surgery
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  • New Britain
  • Meriden
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Whang, Brian B., MD, FACS Whang, Brian B., MD, FACS 475.210.5780
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Bridgeport
Worth, Jennifer, MD, MBA, FACS Worth, Jennifer, MD, MBA, FACS
4.8 /5
110 surveys
860.886.4330
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Norwich
Zuniga Aguilar, Kristi, PA-C Zuniga Aguilar, Kristi, PA-C
4.9 /5
53 surveys
860.696.4923
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • New Britain
  • Hartford
  • Meriden
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Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute