What is lung nodules?

A lung nodule is a growth in the lung. A single nodule surrounded by lung tissue is called a solitary pulmonary nodule.

A lung nodule might not cause any symptoms. Your doctor may have found one or more nodules on your lung when you were having a chest X-ray or CT scan. Or it may have been found during a lung cancer screening.

A lung nodule may be caused by an old infection or cancer. It might also be a noncancerous growth.

Most nodules do not cause any harm. But without further tests, your doctor can't tell whether an abnormal finding is cancer, a harmless nodule, or something else.

A lung nodule might not cause any symptoms. But you may have symptoms from whatever caused the nodule, like symptoms of an infection.

Your doctor may have found one or more nodules on your lung when you were having a chest X-ray or CT scan.

To diagnose the cause of nodules, your doctor will:

• Ask about your symptoms, do a physical exam, and review your past health.
• Look at your X-rays or CT scan to find out the size, shape, location, and number of nodules you have.
• Order other tests, if needed, such as:
  • Blood tests. They can help find out if inflammation or an infection might be the cause.
  • A PET scan. It can help find out if the nodule might be cancer.
  • A biopsy (a tissue sample). This test can find out if the nodule might be cancer or another problem.

If the cause of the nodule is clear (for example, if it's caused by an infection or inflammation), you may take medicine to treat that problem.

If the cause isn't clear, you may have more tests or treatment. It depends on the risk that the nodule may be cancer.

• If the risk of cancer is small, your doctor may just want to watch to see if the nodule changes over time. Or your doctor may want you to have regular follow-up appointments and tests. For example, you may have a CT scan every 3 to 6 months to see if the nodule is growing.
• If there's a higher risk of cancer, you may have more tests like a PET scan or biopsy (a tissue sample). If the nodule is cancer, you may have surgery to remove the cancer. Or you may have some type of cancer treatment.