Screening in a 58-year-old former smoker
An 8 mm solid nodule in the upper left lung, with spiculated edges.
Spiculated means spiky rather than smooth. At this size the shape of the edge matters more than the size.
No enlarged lymph nodes in the chest.
Mild emphysema at the top of both lungs, consistent with the smoking history.
No earlier chest scan on file to compare with, so there is no way to tell whether the nodule is new.
A single small nodule with irregular edges. Most lung nodules turn out to be harmless, but spiculation at this size, with nothing earlier to compare against, is the reason to check it properly rather than wait and see.
PET-CT in the next few weeks, and a radiologist's review of this study