I recently had a abdominal ct scan & hida scan due to back, chest & stomach pain. Hida scan came back positive and had gallbladder removed. However, the CT scan came back with 4mm nole at right lung base, no calcification and nonspecific. Radiologist report said to follow up in 3 months. I am still having chest pain and severe pain middle of back right side (daily). However, I had several lung tests done in the hospital a little over a year ago due to chest pains, ruled out cardiac (looking for a embolism). I had chest x-rays, VQ scan, ct chest/lung arteriography, helical imaging & mediastinal & lung windows. All of these came back negative. My question is, if all of these tests were negative a little of a year ago, should I play the wait and see game since apparently this is a new nodule. Also, does the indication of no-calcification mean anything?

I too have pulmonary nodules that appeared on a ct scan. I also have emphysema. As it stands now the Drs. are telling me that in 3 months they will do another ct scan to ensure there is no further growth. If there is then they will do surgery to determine if the are begnin or not. They are telling me that because there are multiple nodules they are less of a concern than if it were one especially remarkable nodule, which would suggest a tumor. Good luck and God's speed.

Dale

Don't you just hate this let's wait three months reply? I went ahead and scheduled an appt with a pulomonogist last Friday and he ordered a new CT Lung/Chest, had that done this morning. I have a follow up appt with him next Monday. He really didn't indicate one way or another what he thought the nodule was. I guess I will see what if anything is shown on my CT scan from today. This is all very new to me since I am only 41 yrs old and have not smoked for over 18 years (was only a social smoker).
Good luck to you also.

Hi...had my second Cat Scan last friday. Now I wait till the 27th to see my pulmo for interpretation. I'll continue to update occasionally. It's good to talk to someone whohas the same issues.

Good luck and God bless

Dale

I just was told I had a nodule on my lung while being x-rayed because of shortness of breathe. I was told I had asthma three years ago and now they don't know what, if anything, I have. My doctor told me to wait six months and we will see if it grows. My dad is very concerned and said to get a second opinion. Has anyone gone through this, and what was found out? I appreciate any advice or help with this decision, because frankly if she wasn't worried I decided not to worry and now my dad has me worrying. Thanks!

I have a nodule on my lung, too. Discovered in Aug. 2002. Since then I've had a follow up CT scan done 3 mos after it was discovered. It had grown some so my Pulomonologist had me have a PET scan to check for cancer. that came back negative. Then, in January, I had a lung biopsy. This, also, came back negative. Another CT scan in March. The nodule hadn't grown. Now I have to wait until Dec. to have another CT scan. If it's grown this time the doctor told me it would be removed. It's just a wait and see type thing. Don't worry too much as long as you're under a doctor's supervision. The waiting is the hard part. I understand your Dad's concern but tell him not to panic. This is routine for this type of problem.

Good luck to you and I hope you keep us updated on what you find out.

Evie

I have a 'mass like region' in my right lower lobe that's been there for 2 yr; around 4 to 6 cm. All attempts to diagnose it have failed. Had bronchoscopy biopsy 3x, lung needle biopsy guided by CT; both nondiagnostic. PET scan indicated probably not cancer to 90-95% probability. Doctors have been recommending removal of the mass for the last 17 months, since it could cause a serious infection; however this means removing the entire right lower lobe, which is 25% of total lung.
Have been to #1 and #2 respiratory hospitals [NJH and Mayo]. One theory is its a benign tumor like hamartoma or lipoma, or carcinoid [slow growing cancer which doesn't show up on PET scan]. I'll probably have surgery in a few weeks. My symptoms improved but didn't go away. They say they will biopsy during and after the operation to finally determine what it is; they need a
tissue sample around 1/2" for pathology.

I just had a CT scan on Wednesday and am waiting to see what it says. My doctor decided it would help rule some things out, so I'm happy I didn't have to wait too long for that step. I realize I still have a way to go to know what's going on, but I'm happy she's trying to get to the bottom of it.

Thank you eviejoy, for the words of encouragement and for sharing your experience. It helped me realize that I can get through this.

My doctor said my nodule was not threatening so that's good. We still don't know why I can't breathe, but I do have elivated thyroid counts and I guess it could be that too. So it's off to another doctor. It doesn't look like it's lung related, so thanks to all of you and best wishes for the future!