Does a nodule with "spiculation" mean cancer for sure? - Cancer: Lung Message Board

Tiz · 02-16-2005, 08:21 AM

Yesterday I had my 3rd CT Scan in 6 months...a solitary lung nodule grew from 10.9 mm to 11.7 mm to, now, 12.9 mm. This scan showed something new about the nodule, it now has "spiculation". My regular doctor, who is not a lung or cancer specialist, is adamant that this is malignant cancer...and the internet says spiculations are almost always a sign of malignancy but so far I've found very little information on it.

I will see a lung specialist within a couple weeks but I'm very upset right now and am looking for anyone who knows about this spiculation. The nodule is small and the report says "no adneopathy", I believe that means it hasn't spread, and it's the only nodule there (other than a 30 year old TB scar). It has irregular boarders and low density. My age is a risk factor, I'm 54 yrs old, and I have smoked heavily for 40 years. There is, however, very little cancer of any kind in my family history, no lung cancers at all, BUT, emphysema is strong in my history and I have that, and it's in the advanced stage.

I will post some other questions in case no one opens this one because they don't know about this spiculation characteristic.

antoinettev3 · 02-16-2005, 12:45 PM

No adenopathy means that there is no sign of lymph node involvement.

I know how scary all of this can be. I am a cancer patient (mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer that attacks the lining of the lung) and know that everything that turns up on my scans and X-rays has me scared. Sometimes for good reason and sometimes for nothing. There's no history of cancer in my family either.

The spiculation does tend to indicate a malignancy but that doesn't mean that the news is dire. Having only one nodule and no lymph node involvement is a positive sign. When it comes to this sort of stuff everything is relative.

Don't allow your fear to prevent you from being aggresive in getting the answers and treatment you need.

I really do understand how frightening this is and I hope that everything will turn out well and that you will receive some positive news soon.

If you live in Southern California or Michigan I can recommend some very good specialists if you would like.

Take care and know that you will be in my prayers.

Antoinette

mwessell · 02-16-2005, 01:15 PM

Hi,

The doctors are going to assume it is malignant (especially with your risk factors...age, smoking, etc.) until they prove otherwise. I am not sure about the spiculation...but I know it is a characteristic of a malignancy and gives the doctor one more reason to believe it is cancer.

I think a big red flag should go up with the growth involved. Not very agressive, but there is growth there...why are you waiting 2 weeks to go to a pulmonologist? Call and see if they can squeeze you in earlier! Be aggressive, yet be nice, and they can usually help you out.

I had a nodule removed in September and it was benign - thank God - and now I know I am not dying of lung cancer. If it was malignant, it was out of me - the best place for it!!! The surgery is not that bad - done with scopes.

Good luck and be strong - physically, mentally and emotionally - sounds like if it is malignant - there is a great chance of survival - get things done quickly!And it may not even be malignant - mine had a "tail" on it - a sign of cancer -yet it was not malignant.

Keep us posted

Tiz · 03-09-2005, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antoinettev3

No adenopathy means that there is no sign of lymph node involvement.

I know how scary all of this can be. I am a cancer patient (mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer that attacks the lining of the lung) and know that everything that turns up on my scans and X-rays has me scared. Sometimes for good reason and sometimes for nothing. There's no history of cancer in my family either.

The spiculation does tend to indicate a malignancy but that doesn't mean that the news is dire. Having only one nodule and no lymph node involvement is a positive sign. When it comes to this sort of stuff everything is relative.

Don't allow your fear to prevent you from being aggresive in getting the answers and treatment you need.

I really do understand how frightening this is and I hope that everything will turn out well and that you will receive some positive news soon.

If you live in Southern California or Michigan I can recommend some very good specialists if you would like.

Take care and know that you will be in my prayers.

Antoinette

Hi Antoinette, thanks for your message. I'll post an update on what's going on with me on the other thread I started, "Can one with severe COPD withstand lung surgery" since the COPD seems to be the bigger issue right now and I don't want to post the same information in this thread too.

I can sure understand how everything that turns up on your scans scares you, cancer is such a scarey thing and it's hard to find some of the answers to our questions. I hope you're doing well now!

No, I don't live in CA or Michigan, I live in Iowa, and I've chosen a surgeon who I really like, I'll have to just trust him to know what he's doing :S.

Thanks for your prayers..................Tiz.

Tiz · 03-09-2005, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwessell

Hi,

The doctors are going to assume it is malignant (especially with your risk factors...age, smoking, etc.) until they prove otherwise. I am not sure about the spiculation...but I know it is a characteristic of a malignancy and gives the doctor one more reason to believe it is cancer.

I think a big red flag should go up with the growth involved. Not very agressive, but there is growth there...why are you waiting 2 weeks to go to a pulmonologist? Call and see if they can squeeze you in earlier! Be aggressive, yet be nice, and they can usually help you out.

I had a nodule removed in September and it was benign - thank God - and now I know I am not dying of lung cancer. If it was malignant, it was out of me - the best place for it!!! The surgery is not that bad - done with scopes.

Good luck and be strong - physically, mentally and emotionally - sounds like if it is malignant - there is a great chance of survival - get things done quickly!And it may not even be malignant - mine had a "tail" on it - a sign of cancer -yet it was not malignant.

Keep us posted

Hi Mwessell, thanks for your reply. I'm glad your nodule was benign, it's sure scarey waiting to find out for sure. Knowing yours had a tail on it and was still benign is encouraging, I found one little internet article that says MAC infection can be a solitary nodule with spiculation and that MAC can run in families...and my sister was diagnosed with that last year, so who knows. They won't know what mine is until after the surgery, I'll post an update on that in the other thread I wrote, "can one with severe COPD withstand lung surgery".