What is a pulmonary nodule?
A pulmonary nodule is a small round spot on the lung, often found during a chest X-ray or CT scan. These nodules are usually less than an inch wide and most of the time they are not cancer. In fact, many people have them and never know because they cause no symptoms. But doctors may want to keep an eye on them, just to be safe.
Causes of pulmonary nodules
Most pulmonary nodules are harmless and come from things like:
- Past infections that left a small scar
- Inflammation from diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or sarcoidosis
- Noncancerous (benign) growths
- In some cases, early lung cancer
Risk factors for pulmonary nodules
You may be more likely to have a nodule that needs checking if you:
- Are age 50 or older
- Smoke or used to smoke
- Have a history of cancer
- Were exposed to things like asbestos or radon
- Have chronic lung diseases like COPD or tuberculosis
Symptoms of pulmonary nodules
Most people don’t have symptoms at all. But if the nodule is large or related to another condition, you might notice:
- A cough that doesn’t go away
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Coughing up blood (rare)
Diagnosing pulmonary nodules
Pulmonary nodules are often found by accident during a scan for something else. To figure out what it is, doctors may:
- Do a CT scan to get a closer look
- Compare new and old scans to see if the nodule has changed
- Order a PET scan if cancer is a concern
- Take a biopsy (a small sample) if needed
- Ask about your health history and risk factors
Treatment of pulmonary nodules
Treatment depends on the size, shape, and whether the nodule changes over time. Options include:
- Watchful waiting with repeat scans to track changes
- Biopsy or surgery if it looks suspicious
- Treating the cause (like an infection or inflammation)
- Cancer treatment, if the nodule turns out to be cancerous