These nodules may be permanent or may even spontaneously disappear by the time of the next scan. Most are of absolutely no consequence.
Compared to their cancerous counterparts, benign lung nodules will not spread to multiple parts of the body (metastasis) and are typically not life-threatening. Sometimes, these nodules may be inflammatory in nature and can shrink or spontaneously disappear by the time of your next scan.
There is very little growth or change, if there's any at all. Cancerous pulmonary nodules, however, are known to grow relatively quickly—usually doubling in size every four months but sometimes as fast as every 25 days.
The treatment of lung nodules varies widely depending on the diagnosis. Most benign lung nodules can be left alone, especially those seen on previous imaging tests that haven't changed for two or more years. If your nodule is cancerous, detection at this small size is very curable.
Fortunately, the majority of lung nodules aren't a sign of lung cancer. A noncancerous condition causes the abnormal growth. Most benign lung nodules don't need treatment. If a nodule is cancerous, your healthcare provider can discuss next steps.
However, your doctor may suspect a lung nodule is cancerous if it grows quickly or has ridged edges. Even if your doctor believes the nodule is benign or noncancerous, he or she may order follow-up chest scans for some time to monitor the nodule and identify any changes in size, shape or appearance.
Generally speaking, malignant nodules grow fast, usually doubling in size in just six months. Nodules that grow slower are less likely to be cancerous.
Treatment for a cancerous nodule
A doctor may request a thoracotomy to remove a cancerous nodule. This surgical procedure involves removing the nodule through an incision in the chest wall. Additional treatments for cancerous lung nodules may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other surgical interventions.
The location of the lung nodule may guide the care team in evaluating possible risk, and studies indicate that nodules in the upper lobe may be more indicative of cancer.
In the vast majority of cases, lung nodules turn out to be small benign scars, indicating the site of a previous small area of infection. These nodules may be permanent or may even spontaneously disappear by the time of the next scan. Most are of absolutely no consequence.
Most cancers grow fairly slowly, and it takes several months for them to get bigger. So even if the nodule is lung cancer, it will likely still be small in a few months.
The smaller the nodule, the more likely it is to be benign. Also, benign nodules grow very slowly, if at all, while cancerous nodules on average can double in size every four months or less.
Most lung nodules are benign, or non-cancerous. In fact, only 3 or 4 out of 100 lung nodules end up being cancerous, or less than five percent. But, lung nodules should always be further evaluated for cancer, even if they're small.
Nodules between 6 mm and 10 mm need to be carefully assessed. Nodules greater than 10 mm in diameter should be biopsied or removed due to the 80 percent probability that they are malignant. Nodules greater than 3 cm are referred to as lung masses.
Most lung nodules don't cause any symptoms and are often found on a chest X-ray or CT scan performed for another reason. If symptoms are present, they may include: Coughing. Coughing up blood.
Larger nodules are more worrisome. Rounded nodules are less likely to be cancerous than spiculated (having jagged edges) ones. Calcified lung nodules contain calcium deposits that sometimes form in response to infection. These nodules are most likely noncancerous.
Biopsies are usually not recommended when nodules are small because it is very difficult to biopsy them safely. Doing a biopsy when a nodule is small can cause harm such as trouble breathing, bleeding, or infection. Biopsies are often done for nodules that are 9 mm or larger.
In a study from Italy, 23 patients with osteogenic sarcoma and pulmonary metastases received neoadjuvant methotrexate, cisplatin, doxorubicin, and ifosfamide before undergoing simultaneous resection of primary and metastatic disease. About one-third of all lung nodules disappeared after preoperative chemotherapy.
Lesions with a wall thickness less than 4 mm are benign 95% of the time, while those with a thickness greater than 16 mm are 84% likely to be malignant. "Anything in between," Dr.
Benign lung nodules can be caused by inflammation from a number of conditions. They include: Bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. Fungal infections, such as histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis or aspergillosis.
Thus, some benign lung nodules are misdiagnosed as lung metastases, resulting in incorrect clinical staging and treatment.
If >6 mm, the repeat CT at 3 to 6 months, if nodule continues to grow or has persistent solid component >6 mm, the patient is deemed high risk, and resection should be considered. A CT should be performed annually for 5 years if the nodule is unchanged from a prior and solid component <6 mm.
Pulmonary nodules are common incidental findings on imaging
About 30% of all chest computed tomography (CT) scans contain one or more pulmonary nodules. Larger nodules can also be seen on chest radiographs.
Benign lung nodules and tumors usually cause no symptoms. This is why they are almost always found accidentally on a chest X-ray or CT scan.