Five things you should know about lung nodules
A lung nodule may sound scary, but it’s really a fancy way of saying a “spot in the lung.”
Lung nodules are common. About half of adults who get a chest X-ray or CT scan have lung nodules, according to the American Thoracic Society. Fortunately, less than 5 percent of these lung nodules turn out to be cancer.
M Health Fairview Thoracic Surgeon Rafael Andrade, MD, and Abbie Begnaud, MD, an interventional pulmonologist, share five things to know about lung nodules, what you need to know to keep your lungs healthy, and how M Health Fairview healthcare providers collaborate to treat lung nodules. Andrade and Begnaud are also professors with the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Infection and inflammation can cause lung nodules.
Lung nodules between .2 inches and 1.2 inches and are relatively common. Inflammation in the lungs or an infection can cause spots in the lungs.
Andrade said lung nodules are likely to be benign:
- In people under age 40.
- In people who do not smoke.
- When the nodule is small.
Nodules are often found on an X-ray or CT scan.
Typically, lung nodules are not associated with any symptoms, which is why doctors often discover them accidentally during a chest X-ray or CT scan.
When symptoms are present, they are usually caused by the condition that led to the development of the lung nodule, rather than the lung nodule itself.
Some symptoms that may lead to a chest X-ray or CT scan include:
- Wheezing
- Prolonged coughing
- Coughing up blood
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Pneumonia
Cancerous nodules typically grow or change appearance quickly.
Most lung nodules are not cancerous, or malignant. However, your doctor may suspect a lung nodule is cancerous if it grows quickly or has ridged edges. Even if your doctor believes the nodule is benign or noncancerous, they might order follow-up chest scans for some time to monitor the nodule and identify any changes in size, shape, or appearance.
Additional testing helps determine the cause of a lung nodule.
Your doctor may order additional tests on a suspicious lung nodule to determine the cause of the nodule. These tests may include a CT scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, a needle biopsy or a bronchoscopy. If test results are inconclusive, your doctor might recommend removal of the lung nodule to be safe.
Our specialists collaborate to treat lung nodules.
Andrade and Begnaud work with a team of caregivers including other pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, specialized chest radiologists, interventional radiologists and nurses. Together, this team reviews lung nodules to determine the best course of treatment for the individual.
This collaborative approach to treatment means each person has multiple advocates working together to determine what steps need to be taken to ensure nothing is missed while monitoring or treating the nodules.
The robust M Health Fairview lung care program consistently earns high marks from U.S. News & World Report. For example, M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center was recognized as “High Performing” in 2024 in pulmonology and lung surgery. The medical center is also home to the region’s largest lung transplant program. Finally, the lung care program also offers a lung cancer screening program. The screening program gives patients at high risk of developing lung cancer regular screenings with the goal of catching cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages.
Learn more about the lung care services available at M Health Fairview.
