Lung nodules are round spots in the lung that are more solid than the surrounding lung tissue. They can be benign or cancerous. If you are worried about a nodule on your lung, there are several options to get it checked out. If the nodule is cancerous, follow-up scans and more tests may be needed.
Lung nodules are a round spot in the lung that is more solid than normal lung tissue
A chest X-ray can detect nodules on the lung and refer you to a physician for further evaluation. Your doctor may perform blood tests and CT scans to determine the cause of the nodule. Once a cause is determined, treatment options will be discussed. If the nodule is infected, antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce the chances of developing cancer. If it is not infected, a follow-up CT scan may be recommended to monitor the nodule’s progress.
Most lung nodules are benign. Only three to four in 100 will develop into cancer. But even if they are benign, it’s important to have them checked by a doctor because a cancerous nodule should be treated as soon as possible. Getting a timely diagnosis can save your life!
If you suspect you have a lung nodule, it’s important to see a pulmonologist. These physicians are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of lung nodules. They are trained in lung cancer treatment and can order further tests if necessary. Getting a second opinion can also reduce your stress and anxiety.
They can be benign
A nodule, or lump, on the skin is considered benign when it is not cancerous. A doctor may perform a biopsy to determine its nature. This process involves aspirating a sample of tissue from the nodule. This sample contains cells and fluid, which the doctor sends to the lab for further analysis.
The nodule’s appearance may be indicative of an infection, parasite, or malign tumor. Nodules on the lungs can be found on chest X-rays, or on CT scans. These tests provide detailed images and are useful for diagnosing lung cancer.
They can be cancerous
Lung nodules are usually noncancerous, but some can be cancerous. They may be caused by over-use of the voice or irritation of the vocal cords by stomach acid. Lung nodules are generally between 0.2 and 1.2 inches in diameter, but they can be larger. They may represent swollen lymph nodes or a lung infection. Noncancerous nodules do not usually require treatment, but those that are larger than 1.2 inches should be checked for cancer.
The first step to determining whether you have a lung nodule is to see your doctor. A chest X-ray or a computerized tomography scan may show a nodule that is suspicious. If it is suspicious, it should be removed immediately and followed up by a medical professional. If it is malignant, the treatment plan will be designed by a thoracic surgeon and an oncologist.
Treatment options
Treatment options for nodlus are determined by the size and type of the nodulus. Small nodules that do not cause symptoms may be treated with surgery. Large nodules may be treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Patients with a large number of nodules may require a more aggressive treatment regimen.
The aims of treatment vary, but the main objective is to shrink the nodule. The most common treatment option is chemotherapy. However, if it fails to shrink the nodule, other methods of treatment are available. Some nodules may be incompatible with certain treatments. Therefore, treatment options for nodlus must be determined carefully.
Thyroid nodules are usually benign, but the cause of a nodule may not be immediately clear. Sometimes, an imaging study or surgery is needed to determine the exact cause. A small nodule may not need treatment, but large nodules can interfere with swallowing and breathing. If the nodule is too large to be surgically removed, another treatment option is radiofrequency ablation. This procedure is minimally invasive and can be performed on a thyroid nodule without removing it completely.