Pulmonary Nodules

Learning you have a pulmonary nodule after a chest X-ray or CT scan can be scary. The pulmonology team at Beaufort Memorial can help you understand what the results mean for you and go over your options for treatment.

Call 843-707-8040 to schedule an appointment with a member of our pulmonology team.

What Causes Pulmonary Nodules?

A pulmonary nodule is a circular or oval growth on the lungs. Pulmonary nodules rarely cause symptoms and are often discovered during an imaging study, such as a chest X-ray or chest CT scan, ordered to diagnose another condition. Although abnormal, solitary pulmonary nodules are common and can develop because of a respiratory infection. However, when multiple pulmonary nodules exist, doctors may investigate them further to determine if you have lung cancer or another lung disease.

What Happens After Your Doctor Finds a Pulmonary Nodule?

If a scan reveals a nodule in your lungs, your pulmonologist will monitor the nodule and perform further tests based on your medical history. Singular pulmonary nodules are typically considered to be harmless if they appear small and solid with a smooth border, particularly in people who are young and don’t smoke. In many cases, your doctor will monitor these nodules over time using imaging studies. If the nodule does not grow or change within two years, you may not need treatment or continued monitoring.

If there are multiple pulmonary nodules in your lungs, there is a greater chance that lung cancer or another serious condition is present. In that case, our pulmonology team may recommend a biopsy, especially if you have any risk factors for lung cancer or lung disease, such as smoking, and other symptoms of lung cancer. You may also need further testing if the pulmonary nodule grew or changed in any way from previous imaging studies.

During a lung needle biopsy, a needle is passed through the wall of the chest to collect fluid from within the nodule. A biopsy of the nodule can also be performed during a bronchoscopy procedure. Our doctors might order tests to rule out lung diseases, including tuberculosis.

Treatment for a pulmonary nodule depends on the results of the imaging studies and biopsy. If our doctors determine the pulmonary nodules are not serious, no treatment other than continued monitoring may be necessary. If a biopsy leads to a lung cancer diagnosis, then we’ll proceed with treatment.

Our medical team can guide you through the next steps after an imaging test finds a pulmonary nodule. If you think you may be at risk for lung cancer, you may need a low-dose CT lung cancer screening to determine if you have pulmonary nodules that require treatment.