I read my CT scan and PET scan and immediately told my local Pulmonologist that if we were talking cancer I was going to Mayo (Rochester, I am only two hours away). She was surprised and suggested for speed I could be diagnosed there and treated at Mayo. She wanted to do a needle biopsy. I repeated that I would go to Mayo as my insurance allows me to self-refer (traditional Medicare!). Mayo is number one for Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, and my local clinic despite size is not even ranked, and could not offer the same treatment options. Mayo called me within hours of receiving my scans and gave me an immediate appointment. Turns out I have a complex cancer and Mayo gave me a surgery date with no needle biopsy necessary. They knew it was cancer from the scans.
The lesson here is that one should read the reports from scans and make sure their "specialist" is well qualified in cancer (my local pulmonologist specialized in asthma) and seek out the best expert their insurance will allow them.