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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
lung nodule, woried sick
Answered by
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lung nodule, woried sick
by smf7868, May 25, 2009 12:44AM
i was recently in the hospital and they found a 4 mm nodule on my lung 5/14/09. just 21 days before tha ct test i had a previous one done and there was nothing found at that time i also had a lung scan which was neg. should i be concerned that this was nodule was discovered so soon after the neg ct scan that was done just 3 weeks earlier. the same radiologist read both reports and i have spoken with him he assures me that he missed nothing on the first ct. i am 42 and have smoked for the past 26 years, should i be worried about this being cancer.the dr. wants to watch it for the next 3 months i really think i should push for a biopsy i am very worried any suggestions.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, May 28, 2009 04:54PM
, May 28, 2009 04:54PMTo: smf
As I understand your question, for some reason you had two CT scans, 21 days apart. For valid comparison, the two CT Scans need to have been done, using exactly the same protocols. Your having two scans within a 21 day period strongly suggests that one or more of your doctors is very suspicious that you have some type of underlying lung disease. You should ask your doctors, “Why two scans?”
Having said that, you should not be overly concerned about a 4mm nodule, either present but not visualizable the first time or not present and truly having developed in a 21 day period. By conventional standards, this is a very small nodule and the great majority of nodules this size are benign, even for smokers. In addition the development of any size nodule, over a 3 week period (a very short period of time) practically guarantees that it is benign, such as a mucous plug or microatelectasis. It is usually not possible to further categorize a nodule of this size and the recommendation of the radiologist that the Scan be repeated in 3 months is sound. You should not push for a biopsy, unless there is something specific about the appearance of this nodule that makes either the radiologist or a lung specialist highly suspicious that the nodule is malignant. The odds, despite your smoking history, really are in your favor.
Good luck
Having said that, you should not be overly concerned about a 4mm nodule, either present but not visualizable the first time or not present and truly having developed in a 21 day period. By conventional standards, this is a very small nodule and the great majority of nodules this size are benign, even for smokers. In addition the development of any size nodule, over a 3 week period (a very short period of time) practically guarantees that it is benign, such as a mucous plug or microatelectasis. It is usually not possible to further categorize a nodule of this size and the recommendation of the radiologist that the Scan be repeated in 3 months is sound. You should not push for a biopsy, unless there is something specific about the appearance of this nodule that makes either the radiologist or a lung specialist highly suspicious that the nodule is malignant. The odds, despite your smoking history, really are in your favor.
Good luck
