A solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is an isolated lung growth surrounded by normal tissue.
Most SPNs are benign (not cancerous) when they’re diagnosed.
However, some nodules can enlarge and change over time, eventually turning into lung cancer.
For this reason, your healthcare provider may monitor the nodule for a year or longer.
Benign SPNs can develop due to many causes, including infections, cysts, and autoimmune diseases.
Of all SPNs detected, 95% arebenign.However, they can change and turn into lung cancer.
The chance of a nodule becoming malignant increases with its size and other risk factors.
Healthcare providers diagnose the nodule as a lung mass if it’s larger than 3 cm.
A mass is immediately considered to be suspicious of lung cancer.
However, if it’s malignant, it can also be ametastatic cancerthat originated elsewhere in your body.
Symptoms
Most people won’t have any signs or symptoms because an SPN is so small.
If symptoms appear, they often imitate a common chest cold or mild flu.
You may have symptoms related to the underlying condition.
You’ll have joint swelling and pain because of rheumatoid arthritis before pulmonary nodules develop.
Lung cancer doesn’t cause symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage.
Nodules are found in nearly half of patients undergoing lung cancer screening.
Risk Factors
Your healthcare provider also considers your risk factors.
In some cases, immediate action is required; in others, a watch-and-wait approach is more appropriate.
However, your healthcare provider may monitor it to be sure it doesn’t enlarge or change its appearance.
The treatment approach will depend on these factors, as well as your general health.
Options include:
Summary
A solitary pulmonary nodule often causes no harm.
It also doesn’t need treatment as long as it doesn’t change.
If an underlying health condition causes your SPN, you’ll need the treatment appropriate for that problem.
A benign nodule can turn cancerous.
For this reason, your healthcare provider may schedule routine appointments and diagnostic imaging to monitor the nodule.
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