Pulmonary Nodule: Diagnosis And Treatment
When we hear about a pulmonary nodule, the first thought that comes to mind is cancer. However, although both conditions are sometimes related, it can be a benign condition.
A pulmonary nodule is a mass that appears in the lung, which can measure between five and thirty millimeters. It is an increasingly frequent disease, which is estimated to affect about 0.2% of the population. However, nearly 60% of these nodules are benign.
The causes of this disease are very varied, from an infection to a tumor. In most cases, these formations are accidentally diagnosed when performing a CT scan – computed axial tomography – or x-ray.
It is important to diagnose this pathology early to avoid complications and rule out a more serious condition. In this article, we explain everything you need to know about a pulmonary nodule and what symptoms it causes.
What are the causes of a pulmonary nodule?
As we have already mentioned, a pulmonary lump is a mass that appears in the lung. The causes can be very different, even though m uch often is due to an infection caused by bacteria, fungi or parasites.
Among the infectious causes, pulmonary nodules are common in people with tuberculosis . Although the incidence is decreasing, it still remains a relatively frequent infection.
Neoplastic cause
When the presence of a pulmonary nodule is detected, first of all it must be ruled out that it is a tumor. This is because lung cancer is one of the most frequent, also due to smoking.
In these cases, the nodules usually appear irregular on the X-ray, with poorly defined edges . They are also generally smaller than benign and are associated with certain risk factors, such as:
- Being a smoker .
- Be over 35 years old.
- Having had cancer before.
- The pulmonary nodule has grown rapidly over the past few months.
However, it is important to know that not all neoplastic lung nodules are malignant. There are also some benign tumors, although the truth is that they are much less frequent than the former.
Other causes of the pulmonary nodule
There are other diseases that can cause this lung pathology. For example, some autoimmune processes such as Wegener’s granulomatosis or rheumatoid nodule . Both are considered rare diseases.
Similarly, in some people the pulmonary lump can appear due to trauma, a metabolic disease called amyloidosis, or after the genesis of a bronchial cyst.
How is pulmonary nodule diagnosed?
To diagnose the pulmonary nodule and to know its cause, it is essential to first make a complete medical history, or medical history, of the patient. You need to know if you have had tuberculosis or if you have been exposed to certain infections or infected people.
It is also important to know if you are a smoker or not. Numerous studies have shown that most nodules are cancerous and related to tobacco.
Once the medical history is complete, some imaging tests should be done to locate the lump. The images also allow you to observe certain characteristics, such as shape and size, which are important in differentiating a benign from a potentially malignant condition.
The ones used most often are chest x-rays and computed tomography or CT scans. To know exactly the triggering cause of the pulmonary nodule, biopsies are sometimes performed to analyze the tissue that forms it.
What is the treatment?
Treatment will depend on the cause of the lump. When it comes to an infectious process, no treatment may be needed or the doctor may decide to prescribe antibiotics or antifungals to curb the infection.
When the cause is unclear, treatment is geared towards cancer risk. For example, in young non-smokers whose nodule does not appear to be malignant, periodic monitoring may be sufficient. This monitoring is used to check for possible changes in the lump, if it changes shape or grows.
However, if there is a risk of cancer, the most important test to perform is a biopsy . If it is actually cancerous, surgery may be required to remove it. When surgery is not a viable route, chemotherapy or radiotherapy is opted for.
To conclude, it is essential to highlight again the negative influence of tobacco. We must be aware of the risk and undergo frequent medical checks to diagnose this pathology early.
