Lung nodule: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Lung nodule

Also written as: pulmonary nodule, solitary pulmonary nodule, micronodule

A lung nodule is a small, round spot in the lung, up to 3 cm across. Most are harmless, such as scars from old infections.

Seen on: CT, X-ray

How it reads in a report

A 6 mm solid pulmonary nodule in the right upper lobe; per Fleischner guidelines, a follow-up CT in 6 to 12 months is suggested.

What it means

A nodule is a small, rounded spot that looks whiter than the air-filled lung around it. By definition it is 3 cm or less across; anything larger is called a mass. Reports also describe its type: solid, part-solid or ground-glass (hazy). Nodules are very common on chest CT. Most are scars from past infections, small lymph nodes inside the lung, or other harmless tissue.

When it matters

Most lung nodules are benign, especially those under 6 mm. Doctors weigh size, shape, edges and type, plus age and smoking history. Many small nodules need no follow-up, or just a repeat CT after some months. A solid nodule that stays the same for two years is very likely benign. Hazy nodules grow slowly, so they are watched for longer. Larger or growing nodules may lead to a PET-CT or a biopsy.

Questions to ask your doctor

How big is the nodule, and is it solid, part-solid or ground-glass?
Given my age and smoking history, do I need a follow-up CT, and when?
Has it changed compared with any older chest scans I have had?

General information, not medical advice. What a finding means for you depends on your symptoms, your history and the images themselves, so talk your results through with a doctor.