BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSolitary pulmonary noduleLung cancer - solitary nodule; Infectious granuloma - pulmonary nodule; SPNA solitary pulmonary nodule is a round or oval spot (lesion) in the lung that is seen with a chest x-ray or CT scan.Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scanA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes More than half of all solitary pulmonary nodules are noncancerous (benign). Benign nodules have many causes, including scars and past infections.Infectious granulomas (which are formed by cells as a reaction to a past infection) cause most benign nodules. Common infections that often result in granulomas or other healed scars include:Tuberculosis (TB) or exposure to TB TuberculosisPulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs. It may spread to other organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fungus, such as aspergillosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, or histoplasmosisAspergillosisAspergillosis is an infection or allergic response due to the aspergillus fungus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CoccidioidomycosisValley fever is an infection that occurs when the spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis enter your body through the lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CryptococcosisCryptococcosis is infection with the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HistoplasmosisHistoplasmosis is an infection that occurs from breathing in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Primary lung cancer is the most common cause of cancerous (malignant) pulmonary nodules. This is cancer that starts in the lung. Symptoms A solitary pulmonary nodule itself rarely causes symptoms. Exams and Tests A solitary pulmonary nodule is most often found on a chest x-ray or chest CT scan. These imaging tests are often done for other symptoms or reasons. It can also occur as part of the screening chest CT for people age 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history.Your health care provider must decide whether the nodule in your lung is most likely benign or of concern. A nodule more is likely benign if: The nodule is small, has a smooth border, and has a solid and even appearance on an x-ray or CT scan. You are young and never smoked. Your provider may then choose to monitor the nodule over time by repeating a series of x-rays or CT scans.Repeat chest x-rays or chest CT scans are the most common way to monitor the nodule. Sometimes, lung PET scans may be done. PET scansA lung positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer) to look for disease in the lung...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If repeated x-rays show that the nodule size has not changed in 2 years, it is most likely benign and a biopsy is not needed. Your provider may recommend a biopsy of the nodule to check for cancer if: You are a smoker. You have other symptoms of lung cancer. The nodule has grown in size or has changed when compared to earlier images. The nodule has features that make it more likely to be cancerous (malignant).A lung needle biopsy may be done by placing a needle directly through the wall of your chest, or during procedures called bronchoscopy or mediastinoscopy.Lung needle biopsyA lung needle biopsy is a method to remove a piece of lung tissue for examination. If it is done through the wall of your chest, it is called a tran...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BronchoscopyBronchoscopy is a test to view the airways and diagnose lung disease. It may also be used during the treatment of some lung conditions.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MediastinoscopyMediastinoscopy with biopsy is a procedure in which a lighted instrument (mediastinoscope) is inserted in the space in the chest between the lungs (m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tests to check for TB and other infections may also be done. Treatment Ask your provider about the risks of having a biopsy versus monitoring the size of the nodule with regular x-rays or CT scans. Treatment may be based on the results of the biopsy or other tests. Outlook (Prognosis) The outlook is usually good if the nodule is benign. If the nodule does not grow larger over a 2-year period, often nothing more needs to be done.Open ReferencesReferencesBueno J, Landeras L, Chung JH. Updated Fleischner Society guidelines for managing incidental pulmonary nodules: common questions and challenging scenarios. Radiographics. 2018;38(5):1337-1350. PMID: 30207935 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30207935/.Jokerst CE, Gotway MB. Thoracic radiology: noninvasive diagnostic imaging. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 20.Reed JC. Solitary pulmonary nodule. In: Reed JC, ed. Chest Radiology: Patterns and Differential Diagnoses. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 20.AllVideoImagesTogAdenocarcinoma - chest x-ray - illustration This chest x-ray shows adenocarcinoma of the lung. There is a rounded light spot in the right upper lung (left side of the picture) at the level of the second rib. The light spot has irregular and poorly defined borders and is not uniform in density. Diseases that may cause this type of x-ray result would be tuberculous or fungal granuloma, and malignant or benign tumors.Adenocarcinoma - chest x-rayillustrationPulmonary nodule - front view chest x-ray - illustration This x-ray shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the upper right lung (seen as a light area on the left side of the picture). The nodule has distinct borders (well-defined) and is uniform in density. Tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases can cause this type of lesion.Pulmonary nodule - front view chest x-rayillustrationPulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan - illustration This CT scan shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the right lung. This nodule is seen as the light circle in the upper portion of the dark area on the left side of the picture. A normal lung would look completely black in a CT scan.Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scanillustrationRespiratory system - illustration Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.Respiratory systemillustrationAdenocarcinoma - chest x-ray - illustration This chest x-ray shows adenocarcinoma of the lung. There is a rounded light spot in the right upper lung (left side of the picture) at the level of the second rib. The light spot has irregular and poorly defined borders and is not uniform in density. Diseases that may cause this type of x-ray result would be tuberculous or fungal granuloma, and malignant or benign tumors.Adenocarcinoma - chest x-rayillustrationPulmonary nodule - front view chest x-ray - illustration This x-ray shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the upper right lung (seen as a light area on the left side of the picture). The nodule has distinct borders (well-defined) and is uniform in density. Tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases can cause this type of lesion.Pulmonary nodule - front view chest x-rayillustrationPulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan - illustration This CT scan shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the right lung. This nodule is seen as the light circle in the upper portion of the dark area on the left side of the picture. A normal lung would look completely black in a CT scan.Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scanillustrationRespiratory system - illustration Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.Respiratory systemillustration Tests for Solitary pulmonary nodule Lung PET scanRelated Information Chest x-ray(Medical Test)Skin nodules(Symptoms)Benign(Special Topic)Granulomatosis with polyangiitis(Condition)Lung cancer - small cell(Condition)Pulmonary tuberculosis(Condition)Histoplasmosis(Condition)Valley fever(Condition) Review Date: 8/13/2023 Reviewed By: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Paul F. Harron Jr. Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Solitary pulmonary noduleLung cancer - solitary nodule; Infectious granuloma - pulmonary nodule; SPNA solitary pulmonary nodule is a round or oval spot (lesion) in the lung that is seen with a chest x-ray or CT scan.Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scanA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes More than half of all solitary pulmonary nodules are noncancerous (benign). Benign nodules have many causes, including scars and past infections.Infectious granulomas (which are formed by cells as a reaction to a past infection) cause most benign nodules. Common infections that often result in granulomas or other healed scars include:Tuberculosis (TB) or exposure to TB TuberculosisPulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs. It may spread to other organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fungus, such as aspergillosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, or histoplasmosisAspergillosisAspergillosis is an infection or allergic response due to the aspergillus fungus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CoccidioidomycosisValley fever is an infection that occurs when the spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis enter your body through the lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CryptococcosisCryptococcosis is infection with the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HistoplasmosisHistoplasmosis is an infection that occurs from breathing in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Primary lung cancer is the most common cause of cancerous (malignant) pulmonary nodules. This is cancer that starts in the lung. Symptoms A solitary pulmonary nodule itself rarely causes symptoms. Exams and Tests A solitary pulmonary nodule is most often found on a chest x-ray or chest CT scan. These imaging tests are often done for other symptoms or reasons. It can also occur as part of the screening chest CT for people age 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history.Your health care provider must decide whether the nodule in your lung is most likely benign or of concern. A nodule more is likely benign if: The nodule is small, has a smooth border, and has a solid and even appearance on an x-ray or CT scan. You are young and never smoked. Your provider may then choose to monitor the nodule over time by repeating a series of x-rays or CT scans.Repeat chest x-rays or chest CT scans are the most common way to monitor the nodule. Sometimes, lung PET scans may be done. PET scansA lung positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer) to look for disease in the lung...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If repeated x-rays show that the nodule size has not changed in 2 years, it is most likely benign and a biopsy is not needed. Your provider may recommend a biopsy of the nodule to check for cancer if: You are a smoker. You have other symptoms of lung cancer. The nodule has grown in size or has changed when compared to earlier images. The nodule has features that make it more likely to be cancerous (malignant).A lung needle biopsy may be done by placing a needle directly through the wall of your chest, or during procedures called bronchoscopy or mediastinoscopy.Lung needle biopsyA lung needle biopsy is a method to remove a piece of lung tissue for examination. If it is done through the wall of your chest, it is called a tran...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BronchoscopyBronchoscopy is a test to view the airways and diagnose lung disease. It may also be used during the treatment of some lung conditions.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MediastinoscopyMediastinoscopy with biopsy is a procedure in which a lighted instrument (mediastinoscope) is inserted in the space in the chest between the lungs (m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tests to check for TB and other infections may also be done. Treatment Ask your provider about the risks of having a biopsy versus monitoring the size of the nodule with regular x-rays or CT scans. Treatment may be based on the results of the biopsy or other tests. Outlook (Prognosis) The outlook is usually good if the nodule is benign. If the nodule does not grow larger over a 2-year period, often nothing more needs to be done.Open ReferencesReferencesBueno J, Landeras L, Chung JH. Updated Fleischner Society guidelines for managing incidental pulmonary nodules: common questions and challenging scenarios. Radiographics. 2018;38(5):1337-1350. PMID: 30207935 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30207935/.Jokerst CE, Gotway MB. Thoracic radiology: noninvasive diagnostic imaging. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 20.Reed JC. Solitary pulmonary nodule. In: Reed JC, ed. Chest Radiology: Patterns and Differential Diagnoses. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 20.