Lung nodules: Can they ever be non-cancerous?

@louiset65 Good for you being proactive. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Take care of yourself, too.

@laughlin1947 I'm sorry to hear of your ex-wife's passing. Breathing dirty city air does cause deposits in the lungs. I think just about everyone has that. I really worry when there is wildfire smoke that is dangerous to breathe. On those days, I'm inside with my HEPA filters running and really I do that all the time inside. I have asthma and lots of allergies. Hopefully it all remains benign.

Does anyone Nodules areas hurt. Mine seems to hurt when I lay down or bend a certain way.

@kausmus
Sometimes mine do hurt, when I lay a different way.

Yes, they can be non-cancerous. I am in Ohio and I go to Cleveland Clinic. I see a Specialist, a Lung Nodule Specialist for my lung nodules. I have 2 of them, they are around 3 and 4 mm, so mine are tiny. My Dr. wasn't concerned about them. She thinks I got it from a previous pneumonia or from my many sinus or ear infections or upper respiratory infections, I have had over the years. I have CVID-Common Variable Immune Deficiency, a rare Primary Immunodeficiency. She is monitoring me closely; I go back in 1 year to get another CT scan and then she will review the scan and tell me if anything has changed. She wants to see me once a year for the nodules. I was really scared when I found out I had lung nodules. I do have shortness of breath, an ongoing cough and wheezing at times, I have asthma, as well. If you can go to a Lung Nodule Specialist that would be best, as they are the experts on lung nodules. If there isn't one nearby, then the Pulmonologist, would be good to see about it. The larger they get, my Dr. said that would be more concerning to the Dr. So, if yours are small, which it sounds like they are, sounds like the situation is minor right now. Take care of yourself, use inhalers if you have them or other medicine or nebulizer. I'm in the same boat as you. No, it isn't fun going to the Dr. to deal with this. Be thankful they are small!

@louiset65
The opposite is true. Nodules are not often malignant. Shame on your Doc for not at least set your mind at ease.

Had sarcoidosis 21 years ago and lungs are scarred and calcified nodules throughout. CT Scan with dye for nodules in the thyroid said 6 mm spiculated areas right upper lung Been told for years scarring. Haven’t heard this term spiculated applied before. Of course I looked it up. Ugh. But maybe it’s just the scarring from the old sarcoidosis. Also a 4 mm hypodense adenoma with dots of calcification in the thyroid

Can someone tell me what SUV on a Pet Scan means. My husbands is 3.2 Thanks

Hi @louiset65, The SUV on a PET scan report refers to the standardized uptake value (SUV). This value is a standardized way to compare across scans how much metabolic activity there appears to be in an area of the body. Cancer, infection, inflammation are all metabolically active. So, the value can help to determine just how active the area may be. They can use this information to determine next steps in the investigation. The PET scan is just one piece of the puzzle that your husband's doctor will use to assess what's happening in your husband's lung.
Are they still looking at doing a biopsy, or did he have one already?

Thank You! He will see the Doctor who may be doing the Biopsy next week. As of now we do not know much.