Diagnose a nodule in the lung in the same way as cancer, but in most cases, nodules are benign and therefore life-threatening, especially when the size is less than 30 mm.
However, in rare cases, the presence of a lump could be early lung cancer in another area of the body and, therefore, it is important to maintain a periodic evaluation with imaging tests to evaluate growth and rates of change, initiating treatment if necessary.
- Only 5% of nodules are lung cancers.
- Although they are more common in children.
- People with a history of cancer in the family or smokers.
- Meaning that a young man.
- Who is not a smoker and has a small nodule.
- Has very little risk of developing lung cancer.
To find out if a nodule is malignant, the pneumonologist usually requests another imaging test, such as a CT scan, and about 4 months later, repeat the test to see if the nodule has created its shape and appearance.
Normally, benign nodules retain the same size and are sufficient for some changes, meaning that cancerous nodules increase quite well in size and shape, showing an irregular mass rather than a round mass, characteristic of the benign pulmonary nodule.
Lung nodules rarely produce a type of symptom, whether they are malignant, benign, and therefore common and discovered during routine exams, such as x-rays or CT scans.
However, some symptoms that can alert you to changes in the lungs, such as nodules, and that should be evaluated by a pneumologist, include shortness of breath, easy fatigue, sore pain and feeling starvation. Air.
The causes of pulmonary nodules vary by type
In addition, the malignant nodule can also be caused by cancer elsewhere in the body, such as the stomach or intestine, and other tests, such as colonoscopy or endoscopy, are recommended for cancer in these organs.
Treatment varies by type, in the case of a benign nodule, normally no treatment is recommended, with only a constant evaluation with 1 x-ray plate per year to ensure that there are no changes in the characteristics or size of the nodule.
In the case of an malignant nodule, the pneumonologist generally recommends surgery to remove a piece of the nodule and analyze it in the lab, to confirm the presence of cancer cells, if the result is positive, depending on the size, may be necessary to perform major surgery from which the nodule or part of the lung is stretched , in the case of larger nodules.