Breath Analysis Shows Promise for Distinguishing Cancerous from Benign Lung Nodules

Lung nodules are frequently detected during imaging, but distinguishing malignant from benign findings can require invasive procedures. Some patients undergo biopsies, bronchoscopy, or surgery before learning that a nodule is noncancerous. Approximately 95% of pulmonary nodules identified on low-dose CT scans are ultimately found to be noncancerous. A new study shows that breath-based analysis could help triage indeterminate pulmonary nodules.

Griffith University (Brisbane, Australia) researchers evaluated two complementary breath-profiling technologies for distinguishing cancerous lung nodules from benign ones. The first approach used an electronic nose, or eNose, to identify patterns in chemicals present in exhaled breath. The second used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify specific volatile organic compounds in breath samples.

The study focused on noninvasive triage of indeterminate pulmonary nodules. Its findings were described in the paper “Complementary Breath Profiling Using eNose and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for Noninvasive Triage of Indeterminate Pulmonary Nodules,” published in MedComm on September 23, 2026. Collaborating institutions included Griffith University, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and Queensland Health.

Both breath-based approaches showed stronger discrimination between malignant and benign nodules than models based on standard clinical information alone. The research indicated that breath analysis could support earlier lung cancer diagnosis and help clinicians identify which nodules may require more urgent invasive assessment. The findings also suggest a potential role for noninvasive testing in reducing unnecessary procedures for patients with benign nodules.

“We studied an electronic nose, or eNose, which identifies patterns in breath chemicals. The second technology was gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, which identified specific volatile organic compounds in breath. Both breath-based approaches showed substantially better discrimination between malignant and benign nodules than models using standard clinical information alone,” said Professor Chamindie Punyadeera of Griffith’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics.

“Biopsying lung nodules can be technically challenging, particularly when lesions are small or difficult to access, and can cause complications such as pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung. While a simple breath test is showing promise in identifying which nodules are most likely to be malignant, it is not intended to replace biopsies, but rather to help clinicians decide who needs invasive intervention most urgently. It is hoped that including the noninvasive test in routine clinical care could reduce unnecessary procedures for patients with benign nodules,” said co-author Dr. Xi Zhang.

Related Links
Griffith's Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics