Lung Nodule

I recently had a chest x-ray for some minor surgery on my foot. They noticed a shadow on my lung and their initial observation was to have another x-ray with nipple markers. My doctor being a little more agressive had me get a CT scan with and without contrast.

The results came back and they confirmed a 4mm nodule on my right lung.

What is best approach going forward. I have a family history (father/uncle) of cancer, so I want to be agressive in my approach without going overboard.

Thank you

[National Jewish Health]

A 4mm nodule is a very small nodule.  The great majority of nodules this size are benign.  Not all, of course, because all malignant tumors at some time are 4 mm in size.

There are criteria for the suspicion of malignant disease that go beyond nodule size.  For example, if you are 30 years old or less and a non-smoker, a nodule this size is almost always benign and safe to follow.

The best advice we can give is that you seek consultation with a lung specialist also called a pulmonologist, very familiar with the diagnostic approach to single lesions, called coin lesions.

Unless there are factors of concern, other than the presence of the nodule, the recommendation of a repeat chest x-ray or CT scan in 6 to 12 months would not be unreasonable.