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Solitary pulmonary nodule - Overview

Definition of Solitary pulmonary nodule:

A solitary pulmonary nodule is a round or oval spot (lesion) in the lungs that is seen with a chest x-ray or CT scan.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

More than half of all solitary pulmonary are noncancerous (benign). Benign nodules have many causes, including old scars and infections.

Infectious granulomas are the cause of most benign lesions.

You have a greater risk for developing a solitary pulmonary nodule if you have:

Tuberculosis or been exposed to TB
Infectious lung diseases caused by fungus, such as:

However, the above conditions makes it more likely that the solitary pulmonary nodule is noncancerous.

Young age, history of not smoking, calcium in the lesion, and small lesion size are factors associated with a noncancerous diagnosis.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancerous (malignant) pulmonary nodules.

Adenocarcinoma - chest X-ray

Pulmonary nodule - front view chest X-ray

Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan

Respiratory system

Reviewed last on: 8/17/2009
Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine UMDNJ-NJMS, Attending Physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Cronin P, Dwamena BA, Kelly AM, Carlos RC. Solitary pulmonary nodules: meta-analytic comparison of cross-sectional imaging modalities for diagnosis of malignancy. Radiology. 2008 Mar;246(3):772-82.

Gould MK, Fletcher J, Iannettoni MD, et al. Evaluation of patients with pulmonary nodules: when is it lung cancer?: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition). Chest. 2007;132:108S-130S.

Wahidi MM, Govert JA, Goudar RK, et al. Evidence for the treatment of patients with pulmonary nodules: when is it lung cancer?: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition). Chest. 2007;132:94S-107S.

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