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Solitary pulmonary nodule - Treatment

Treatment:

Ask your doctor about the risks of a biopsy versus monitoring the size of the nodule with regular x-rays.

Reasons for a biopsy or removing the nodule may include:

Smoking
The nodule size has grown compared to earlier x-rays
A CT scan suggests the lesion is malignant (cancerous)

Expectations (prognosis):

The outlook is generally good if the nodule is benign. If the nodule does not grow larger over a 2-year period, under most circumstances nothing more need be done. On occasion, the appearance of the nodule on CT scan may warrant continued follow-up.

Calling your health care provider:

A solitary pulmonary nodule is usually found by your health care professional when a chest x-ray is performed for some other reason.

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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