Bronchoscope and CT results

Posted by wtr @wtr, Jul 26 5:43pm

CT at Mayo February 2025 found 8mm RLL spiculated nodule having grown from 4mm in February 2024. 4mm LUL also found. No lymphadenopathy.
Bronchoscope in Feb 2025 at Mayo on 8 mm nodule successfully obtained tissue from lesion as evidenced by spin CT showing needle in inferior edge of lesion. EBUS identified no mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Pathology found no evidence of malignancy. Also no evidence of infection, fungus, etc. Pulmonologist noted inflammatory response.
Repeat CT in May 2025 found stable 8mm and 4 mm nodules with no growth.
Next CT scheduled for September 2025.
While somewhat relieved with these results, I remain concerned about possible malignancy. Is my concern warranted? Thanks.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

elyser | @elyser | Jul 27 10:08am

I don't know the answer but I do understand your concern. Since it's not cancer, why have they scheduled another CT four months from the last? This puts you in that weird state of being relieved and anxious at the same time. Which will seem familiar to many people following this group. If you can, be glad that it's not cancer and that you have doctors who are making sure that this doesn't change. Inflammation is a common cause of lung nodules.

wtr | @wtr | Jul 27 11:15am

Thank you. Relieved and anxious at the same time is exactly my feeling. One begins to wonder if continued testing is just an abundance of caution or if I’m not made aware of the full story.

cmcguire10 | @cmcguire10 | Jul 27 12:57pm

Morning! They may want to scan again to see if it was an infection that clears and to watch for any more growth. Try not to worry. ❤️ God Bless you and I pray it stays Good news!

mamajite | @mamajite | Jul 29 2:06am

In reply to @wtr "Thank you. Relieved and anxious at the same time is exactly my feeling. One begins to..." + (show)

hi @wtr - congrats on your good report! so there's an "algorithm" that the docs use to track lung nodules. if your nodules don't grow after 2-5 years (depending on some other criteria), then I think you can usually stop doing the follow up scans. you can read more about it here:
https://radiopaedia.org/articles/fleischner-society-pulmonary-nodule-recommendations-1?lang=us

wtr | @wtr | Jul 29 7:45am

In reply to @mamajite "hi @wtr - congrats on your good report! so there's an "algorithm" that the docs use..." + (show)

@mamajite: this article really explains a lot and helps explain the continued surveillance. Thank you so much!

frouke | @frouke | Jul 29 3:48pm

I was also wondering about something called indolent nodules, I have two of them and they have characteristics of possibly being cancer but they don’t change much or grow, I looked into this and it seems that they can be with you forever and not turn into cancer. As a twice cancer survivor I sure need all the reassurance I can get, the surgeon who operated on me twice was not very nice when he started saying that they would turn, he dropped this on me a week before my second surgery, believe me if I could get another doctor without having to wait a very long time, I would definitely have done that.

wtr | @wtr | Jul 30 9:54am

Haven’t heard of indolent nodules. Will look into it.
Your surgeon proceeded with surgery and found a benign process? Indolent nodules?
Thanks.

Please sign in or register to post a reply.