Lung nodules

A lung nodule, also known as pulmonary nodule, spot on the lung or coin lesion, is a small growth which forms inside the lung. Because lung nodules are not associated with any symptoms, they are often detected during X-rays, CT scans or other imaging tests. Roughly half of these tissue growths are benign, having developed as a consequence of a prior infection (tuberculosis, pneumonia, fungus or sarcoidosis) or due to an enlarged lymph node. However, the other half of lung nodules is malignant.

Occupational asbestos exposure is likely to result in lung cancer within 15 to 35 years, as the level of airborne fibers was very high in the workplace before the 1980s and most employees have been in contact with asbestos for several years in a row. Therefore, if you had a high-risk job in the past and a nodule has recently been detected in your lungs, it might be cancerous. To determine whether a lung nodule is benign or malignant, your doctor will:

• monitor its growth – while benign nodules develop very slowly, cancerous masses tend to grow quite rapidly, generally doubling their size every four months
• perform a biopsy – a biopsy is the most accurate method of determining the nature of a lung nodule, as the content of the growth will be carefully examined by a pathologist

If a benign lung nodule has been found in your lungs and you start noticing one or more of the following symptoms, you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible:

• chest pain
• difficulty swallowing
• wheezing
• hoarseness
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• a persistent cough
• coughing up blood
• loss of appetite