What it means
When the immune system cannot clear an invader quickly, such as tuberculosis or certain fungi, it builds a small wall of cells around it. This tiny ball is a granuloma. Over the years many granulomas harden with calcium, so they look bright white on X-ray and CT. They are most often seen in the lungs, and also in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes.
When it matters
A granuloma that is fully calcified, or calcified in a typical pattern, is a benign, healed leftover. These usually need no follow-up. A granuloma without calcium can look like any other small nodule, so it may be checked again later. Many granulomas together, along with enlarged lymph nodes, can point to a condition such as sarcoidosis, which doctors then look into.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Is the granuloma fully calcified, so that no follow-up is needed?
- What past infection could have caused it?
- Does the number or spread of granulomas suggest anything else?
