Connect
Lung nodules: Can they ever be non-cancerous?
I had RSV pneumonia in Nov. Recovered well. On Tuesday I went to ER for an ear infection. They did a chest x-ray then decided to do a CT scan. The results have me terrified. I have no SOB, no symptoms what-so-ever. The CT scan says suggestive of multifocal pneumonia, cannot rule out malignancy. What scares me is the irregulary-shaped nodules. Can they ever be non-cancerous? I have an appt with a pulminary dr. on March 6th, but in the meantime, I am driving myself crazy.
There are multiple bilateral irregularly-shaped lung nodules. Several lung nodules demonstrate central cavitary changes. Example nodule within the medial superior segment of the right lower lobe measures 3.1 x 2.6 cm with central cavitation. Additional 4 x 2.6 cm irregularly-shaped nodule is present within the anterior left upper lobe. This lesion is without cavitary changes. No pleural effusions. No pneumothorax. Heart size is normal. No pericardial effusion. There are shotty mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymph nodes, likely reactive. Liver density is decreased. There are bilateral simple appearing renal cysts.
Any input - good or bad - would be appreciated.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.
Connect
@bijou2010, Hopefully your doctor can compare this scan with your previous scans to see if there is a marked difference. The scans are interpreted by human radiologists, and sometimes they have differences of opinion. Which can be alarming, even when there isn't anything to be concerned about. When they are looking at something that is this small, it can be difficult.
Have you seen your doctor to discuss the results yet?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHis Dr was out of office for a family emergency..he saw an assistant and another doctor in the practice who told him to get a biopsy..he will see the Biopsy Dr, on January 26th. This is where we are at. We know nothing else at this point. Thanks for your response!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMy husband just got his CT scan back. He’s been doing periodically 3 to 6 months due to post Covid as well, he had green infections of phlegm in 2022 and three he’s recovered, but now his latest scanned CT, shows nodules in both lungs and it says malignant does that mean they’re all cancerous he’s going to see a special surgeon for an evaluation of this to see if this is something that antibiotics will help him along as I read everyone’s comments and post Covid issues, I can’t believe what thus virus has crested over the years!! he did not get any shots in 2020 or 2021, he got very sick for five days to a week and that’s when all the lung issues started. Like many people this virus has settled into the lungs and who knows if this will continue to be an issue or if they’ll ever be able to find a cure. !! he is young and healthy and always ate good never smoked or drank and here he had to end up with this like others. I pray every day for all people who have developed this along with im!!
@sunny1971 Please have him see a pulmonologist as well. Nodules and green mucus can both be indicators of infection. The can culture the mucus to see exactly what the bacteria is. Nodules can be biopsied of large enough (about 1.5 cm I think) but multiple spontaneous nodules in a young non-smoker are often evidence of infection.
@sueinmn thank you for that. He is seeing a pulmonologist and he has been on antibiotics that was years ago. He did have infections. The infections are cleared and gone. All he has is white clear mucus however the recent CT just showed millimeter small millimeter nodules that could be malignant so he is following up and we’ll see what the pulmonologist says about the medication.!! hopefully he can get on a strong antibiotic at my might help him!!!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi - not sure where/how to post this (first time).
A few years ago I was diagnosed with lung nodules. My concern is with radon. We've lived in our house nearly 25 years. Some time ago I brought a test kit home from our county health dept. The read says any numbers over 4 should be cause for concern. Ours registered at 17! What to do now?
@s2vera Hello, radon is a big concern where I live due to soil/rock formation of the area, and the fact that many of us do not have well-sealed basements to lower the amount of infiltration. So, I keep an eye on the latest recommendations. Here is the current guidance on next steps once you find an elevated level of radon in your home:
https://www.cdc.gov/radon/prevention/index.html
@louiset65 My husband finally saw the Surgeon and they will be doing a Biopsy. He said the Nodule could be anything benign, infection and of course cancer.He said if it is cancer that it is caught early, . He also said his lungs are in good shape to do the biopsy. I will let you know of any further results.
@louiset65 My husband had bronchoscopy last week and halfway thru it they had to abort procedure because someone realized they told him he didnt have to stop his blood thinner medication. So biopsy was never done. He was told his medication was not on the Hospitals list for meds to stop. Then the surgeon said he had difficulty finding the nodule and decided he should have a cat scan at the end of month to see if it shrunk. He hasnt had cat scan yet so we are still up in the air..We are not happy with all of this.
@louiset65
I had a lung biopsy under a CT scan, went thro my breast, it was SO painful