Our philosophy

A lung nodule clinic is a specialised service dedicated to the assessment, investigation, and management of pulmonary nodules—small spots in the lung often detected incidentally on CT scans.
With the increasing use of imaging, lung nodules are now commonly identified. While the majority are benign, a small proportion may represent early-stage lung cancer, making expert evaluation essential.
At a dedicated lung nodule clinic, patients benefit from a structured, streamlined pathway, including:
✔ Detailed clinical assessment and risk stratification
✔ High-resolution CT imaging and interval surveillance when appropriate
✔ Access to advanced diagnostics, including robotic navigational bronchoscopy for precise biopsy of small or hard-to-reach nodules
✔ Multidisciplinary team (MDT) review involving thoracic surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, and respiratory physicians
✔ Individualised management plans tailored to each patient
The goal is simple: to provide accurate diagnosis as early as possible, while avoiding unnecessary procedures.
By combining cutting-edge technology with specialist expertise, a lung nodule clinic ensures patients receive safe, efficient, and evidence-based care—from initial detection through to definitive diagnosis and treatment if required.
Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos is an internationally recognised London-based Consultant Thoracic (Chest) Surgeon and a leader in the field of Robotic Thoracic Surgery. He specialises in lung cancer surgery and minimally invasive robotic procedures using the latest Da Vinci Xi surgical system, offering patients the most advanced, precise, and least invasive treatments available in the UK.
Mr Panagiotopoulos currently practices at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic London, where he performed the hospital’s first robotic thoracic surgery following its opening in April 2022.
Previously, he served as Consultant Thoracic Surgeon and Clinical Lead for Robotic Thoracic Surgery at the internationally renowned University College London Hospitals (UCLH), where he helped establish London’s first robotic thoracic programme and was part of the pioneering surgical team that performed London’s first robotic thoracic procedure in December 2015.
Mr Panagiotopoulos also runs a dedicated and internationally recognised clinic for chest wall deformities such as pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum, offering both surgical and non-surgical correction options.
He is world-renowned for his expertise in Slipping Rib Syndrome, providing specialised diagnosis and surgical management for this often under-recognised cause of chronic chest wall and rib pain. His clinic also addresses rib fractures, rib injuries, thoracic outlet syndrome, and chronic post-traumatic rib pain, attracting referrals from across the UK and abroad.
In addition, Mr Panagiotopoulos has a strong clinical focus on the robotic management of complex thoracic conditions, including thoracic endometriosis, myasthenia gravis, hyperhidrosis, and severe COPD.