I had a CT scan of my lower body because I have been having stomach pain. When they did the CT they found a nodule in my lung. The next day I had a chest CT done and this is the report.
Findings: Ct images of the chest were obtained. The images were obtained after administration of intravenous contact. Mediastinal windows were reviewed and appear normal. No abnormal mediastinal adenopathy is evident. No mediastinal masses are noted. Pulmonary parenchymal widows were reviewed. A 7mm nodule in the anterior aspect of the lingular is again identified. There is no evidence of calcification. Clinical correlation and follow up is necessary. No other nodule densities are evident. There are no pulmonary infiltrates. No pleural fluid is identified.
Impression: 7mm nodule in the lingula is again identified. This does not contain calcium. Clinical correlation and follow up is necessary. No other abnormalities are evident.
I'd like to know what those that have had nodules in their lungs think. I am scared to death about all this. They are trying to get me an appointment for a lung doctor, but have no idea what to expect. The Nurse did say, that it is good that it is non-calcified, but what I have seen on the web, says the opposite. Could she be wrong? Also, is it a good thing or bad thing that there is no pleural fluid? Any comments are more than welcome. Thank you so much.
HI there. I don't know how much help I will be...but I had a 3.2 cm nodule removed from my lung (as well as the entire upper lobe) just six months ago. Mine too, had no calcification. They found my nodule a few years back and monitored it for 2 years. I was told that if a nodule doesn't grow in a two year period..it is very unlikely to be cancer. Mine had grown right at the 2 year mark and was benign and ended up being a harmartoma. I know it's scary, but just try to remain calm and positive. Make sure you get answers from your doctors. Please update us when you find out more info. I will be thinking of you!
Hi, I had a lung nodule (found during routine x-ray) that started at 5 mm and continued to grow very slowly for three years. You are right about the not calcified. If a nodule is calcified it is most likely benign. Mine like your was not calcified so the continued to watch it. When it reached 11mm (almost a 1/2 inch) they sent me to a pulmonary specialist who referred me to a surgeon. They ruled out doing a regular biopsy. They said they could sample part of it and the part they didn't sample could have cancer, so they did a thoracotomy to biopsy the nodule. There are several different ways to obtain a biopsy, depends on doctor, place, size, etc. They aren't all major procedures like the thoracotomy. It was actually a good thing they did this surgery on me as my nodule was actually double the size they thought it was. Also it was not benign, it was a carcinoid. My doctor told me there are three different stages of nodules. Benign, carcinoid, or cancer. The way I understand carcinoid, it is a supper slow growing beginning stage of caner. A person could have it all their life and die of old age or it could turn into cancer at an eariler time in your life. It is a crap shoot as to which one. So they ended up doing a lobectomy and removed 40 per cent of my right lung. I am still at home recuperating. I feel fine and my breathing is back to normal. I return to work in a week. Not wanting to scare you, but it really depends on if your nodule continues to grow and if it calcifies. I worried about the same things as you are. Every time they did a CT scan I worried until I got the results. I made myself sick, and in the end what happened was totally out of my control. All I can say is thank goodness my doctors kept on top of my nodule. I have another nodule on my left lung which is also 5mm and growing slow. The doctors are going to watch it also. This time, I'm not going to make myself sick waiting to see if it grows or not. My doctors are on top of it and in the end it doesn't matter if I worry or not. What is going to happen is going to happen. MP
Well I seen the Lung Doctor yesterday. He said because my nodule is only 7mm and I never smoked, he believes it was caused by some kind of infection. I am to have another CT Scan in 3 months, at which time he expects it to be gone. If it is still there and hasn't grown, then he will watch it carefully. He said if it is Cancer it will double in size in 3 months and it will have to come out.
I had a 5mm nodule found on one of my lungs in feb 2006 , when I went to get a 2nd scan in July 2006 it was gone. Mine also was non calcified when they spotted it..my lung doctor said it could have been phleghm for all we know. I have also had 2 xrays this month and nothing showed up on them so if they were wrong on that 2nd CT at least I know I don't have anything huge growing in my chest
Last edited by Lutheran122; 08-10-2007 at 04:08 PM.
I'm beginning to believe my nodule might be from Acid Reflux. A couple of months ago. I woke up and had a bad case of acid reflux, it took a good while before I could breath alright. I believe I inhaled some of the acid reflux.
The wife was about ready to call an ambulance for me. It felt like I had to swallow something down or clear something from my throat, and couldn't, but I'm pretty sure whatever it was had gone into my lungs.
It very well could be..it could be scarring from the acid. Remember if you have Acid reflux and your breathing in some of that acid from time to time or worse swallowing it down into the breathing pipe which will definitely cause scarring to the lung. That can look like a nodule on the CT.
The first pulmonogist I went to diagnosed me with GERD and passed me on the GI doctor. I have multiple pulmonary nodules, primarily right upper lobe,and one in the left. I also have pleural effusions and opacities in both lower lobes. The GI guy told me that because I have had heart burn on occasion and what the Pulmonogist said on his referral, that an upper endoscopy was his recommendation. He said even if he proved it was GERD that the lungs would still need to be watched because that diagnosis of the nodules as a result of reflux was in theory and wouldn't by any means be a "true" diagnosis. Well, one procedure later, my esophagus is just fine and there is no evidence of GERD in my stomach...just gastropathy. The GI doctor stated because there are findings in my lower lobes, that the evidence points to a lung problem because the reflux wouldn't effect the lower portion of the lung.
Not to say that your lung nodule isn't evidence of GERD, but if it is, follow up is highly recommended. Hopefully, your nodule doesn't decide to take up permanant residence and just moves on.
Oh, and yes, calcified is the better diagnosis for a nodule...not non-calcified. But both need to be watched for 2 years...or in best hopes...the nodules disappear before the watching period is over.
Since you have multiple nodules, have they ruled out Histoplasmosis. I do know that Histoplasmosis will cause multiple nodules. That was one of my questions since I have Histo in my eyes, and was told by this Doctor and eye doctors in the past that Histo will usually not cause single nodules but will cause several to form.
No, to tell you the truth, the only thing the Doctor's had any immediate concern about was TB and boy did they make sure that was eliminated in a hurry. My GP was the one who originally ordered all the tests with all the lung findings. On the advice of a friend, who is an ocular surgeon, I asked to be referred to a Pulmonogist. He believed it was beyond the scope of my GP. Which is good because it's now confirmed that I have asthma. I have brought up Valley Fever (which is the West's version of Histopasmosis) to all the doctors I've seen about the lung issues and they have not done any testing. I guess, even if the results deliver a positive or negative, it's not conclusive...or so I was told by the first Pulmonary Doctor. Most of the doctors believe it is possible scarring from respiratory infections. But, my new Pulmonogist is still keeping my CTs at 3 month intervals because there has been growth in one opacity in my lower lung and slightly more fluid has formed.
Anyway, I was very scared at first, but it's been such a slow going diagnosis, that I am gradually letting my alarm level drop. It all depends on what the next scan shows whether or not that remains the same.
Well it has been 3 months since I seen the Lung Doctor, and just had another upper CT scan today. The 7mm non-calcified nodule is the exact same as when it was first found.
I see the Lung Doctor again in a few days, but I already know he will most likely give me good news.
That's good news Michael! If nothing else has formed and your nodule has remained stable, it's definitely a positive! It will probably be at least another year of watching just to make sure things stay that way. Thank you for checking in. I'm glad that things are looking good.
Mikael,
So glad to hear you had continued good news. Sit back and take a deep breath and relax,good sign with no changes after 4th scan!
Take care and God bless,
Annette
So happy for you that you have received continued good news about your lung nodule. The uncertainty and waiting are very frustrating and downright scary to boot!
I'm a little jealous that you have had so much follow-up and it sounds like your doctor and insurance company did not argue with you about the repeat CT scans???
I have a a 4 mm nodule and had to fight for follow-up. To make a very long story short:
In Feb 06 I had a chest CT ordered by my GI for bad GERD and erosive esophagitis and the radiologist wrote on his report that "there is a solitary discrete 4 mm pleural based nodule seen posteriorly in the left upper lobe. If patient is low risk, no further follow-up is necessary; if high risk follow-up CT in 12 months would be suggested."
Since I have never smoked and have never had cancer my GP said don't worry - no follow-up needed. Since I had received this news the week after non-smoker Dana Reeve died from lung cancer, I insisted that the GP give me a referral (I belong to an HMO) to a pulmonologist who also said it was nothing to worry about because "the statistics nowadays in low risk patients show we don't really have to follow up closely. She then went on to say that having another CT scan would be worse because of the radiation risk it delivers.
In Sept 06 I began to see a new GP and although he gave me a referral to new pulmo for both my asthma and the nodule, he didn't think it was necessary because in his opinion the radiologist who read my CT scan is very conservative and if he thought there was any question that it was a problem nodule the radiologist would have suggested follow-up. My GP went on to say that technology is too good today and picks up spots in everyone.
Well, I went to see the pulmonologist and heard the same songs again! "It is probably nothing", "you never smoked so you shouldn't worry", there is more risk to having another Ct scan than not" Hard as it was, I stood my ground and insisted that I needed to have this follow-up CT to put my mind at rest. I just needed to know that there had not been any change in the past year. Finally in Feb 07 he ordered a CT but not until MAY. He said it had to be pre-certified by my insurance and he wanted me to think it over and be sure.
Fortunately, the May 07 CT showed no change but I'm frustrated that the radiology report never mentioned if it was calcified or not. According to the pulmo's secretary, the insurance company gave them a hard time approving it and I can't have another.
So sorry to hijack your thread but as you can tell it is still ever-present on my mind.
Take Care!
My GP was the one who originally ordered all the tests with all the lung findings. On the advice of a friend, who is an ocular surgeon, I asked to be referred to a Pulmonogist. He believed it was beyond the scope of my GP. Which is good because it's now confirmed that I have asthma. I have brought up Valley Fever (which is the West's version of Histopasmosis) to all the doctors I've seen about the lung issues and they have not done any testing. I guess, even if the results deliver a positive or negative, it's not conclusive...or so I was told by the first Pulmonary Doctor. Most of the doctors believe it is possible scarring from respiratory infections. But, my new Pulmonogist is still keeping my CTs at 3 month intervals because there has been growth in one opacity in my lower lung and slightly more fluid has formed.
Re: Worried to death about Lung Nodule 
