multiple lung nodules

Hi there, I recently went to the ER with severe abdominal pain, they performed a CT with contrast and determined that a gallstone was causing my pain. A subsequent ultrasound was inconclusive AMD the doctor seemed to think it was then NOT a gallstone but an intestinal infection. I was given antibiotics and sent home. A week later I received the summary of the CT scan and overview of my ER visit, much to my surprise it stated in the report that they saw multiple nodules in my
Lung, this was news to me, as the doctor hadn't mentioned any such thing when reviewing the results in the ER. I am a little freaked out and don't know anything about these things. Any help would be treaty appreciated. Thanks!

[julieben]

Who gave you the results?  They found lung nodules when I had my CT Scan and the
ER doctor did not mention anything.  My primary doctor sent me to a pulmonary doctor.  

[julieben]

How are you doing - did your primary doctor send you to a pulmonary specialist?

[sever1]

I have since seen my GP and he is ordering another ct scan to use as a baseline to follow the size and number of nodules. He also thinks that I have gall bladder disease and referred me to a surgeon to discuss having my gall bladder removed. This whole thing has been so stressful, I really don't want to have surgery, butt sounds like I may have little choice.

[julieben]

Yes it is very stressful.  I have been having CT scans and a PET scan.  Been followed for over 2 years.  I just did a needle biopsy on Thursday - my lung collapsed during the procedure - have a chest tube now; I will have the chest tube taken out tomorrow.  I also have multiple nodules.  Well it turned out not to be cancer even though the nodule grew 4 mm in the last 2 plus years and it had a 0.7 SUV on the PET Scan.  I was very relieved to finally find out it is not cancer but I have been thinking of nothing else except lung cancer for all this time.  I had talked to a few doctors on line and was told that if a person has multiple nodules - usually they are beign - especially if the are small.  

As for the gallbladder - I am hoping for the best for you.  Just to let you know gallbladder surgery has gotten a lot easier than it used to be.  Hoping you won't need surgery .   Keep me updated. Julie

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. Secondary lung tumors manifest as discrete nodules, usually multiple, interstitial infiltrate or endobronchial lesions with or without distal atelectiasis and charcterisitc round appearance on xray chest. Any cancer has the ability to spread to lungs most common being bladder, colon, breast and prostate cancer. You will need a PET scan to confirm and differentiate from pneumoconiosis since malignant cells have higher rate of glucose metabolism.  Thus, the principle of PET scan is intracellular accumulation of FDG snd preferential accumulation of glucose in malignant cells, leads to visualization of malignancy on PET scan. It is the diagnostic and staging tool in cancer, assesses malignant potential in a pulmonary nodule if it is solid and more than 1 cm in dia. management would depend on the diagnosis. Primaries would need to be searched if these are secondaries. Hope this helps. Take care.