Multiple Pulmonary Nodules

Different types of infectionsConditions that involve inflammation, such as sarcoidosis or granulomatosis with polyangiitisClumps of abnormal blood vessels, called arteriovenous malformations (or "AVMs " пїЅ for short)Conditions caused by breathing in harmful substances for many yearsConditions caused by using illegal drugs like heroinScars from an old infection that happened years ago, such as from a fungus, tuberculosis, or chicken pox How will my doctor know what is causing my pulmonary nodules? " пїЅ To help figure this out, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and other medical conditions. He or she will want to know whether you worked around harmful substances you could have breathed into your lungs. If you have not had a CT scan done, he or she will order this test. пїЅ пїЅ

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How will my doctor know what is causing my pulmonary nodules? " пїЅ To help figure this out, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and other medical conditions. He or she will want to know whether you worked around harmful substances you could have breathed into your lungs. If you have not had a CT scan done, he or she will order this test. пїЅ пїЅ

Your doctor will look at your X-ray and CT scan to see the sizes and shapes of the spots, and where they are in your lungs. He or she might be able to tell the cause of the nodules based on this information. пїЅ пїЅ

If you have old chest X-rays or CT scans, he or she will look at those to see whether the spots have changed over time. If the spots have not changed on CT scans from 2 years ago (or longer), they are unlikely to be cancer. They are most likely a type of scar on the lungs. пїЅ пїЅ

Will my doctor order more tests? " пїЅ If your doctor suspects that you have cancer, an infection, or inflammation, he or she will order more tests. These can include: пїЅ пїЅ

Blood tests
A skin test for tuberculosis
Lab tests on samples of mucus that you cough up
An imaging test called a PET scan " пїЅ If some of the nodules are 1/3 of an inch or bigger, your doctor might order a PET scan. For this test, a doctor puts a substance into your vein through a thin tube called an "IV. " пїЅ Then a special camera takes pictures of your lungs. This test can help tell whether pulmonary nodules are likely to be cancer.
A procedure called bronchoscopy " пїЅ For this test, your doctor will put a thin tube with a camera and light on the end (called a "bronchoscope " пїЅ) in your mouth and down into your lungs. During this test, he or she can get samples of mucus from deep inside your lungs. Another doctor will look at the samples under a microscope and do lab tests on them.

If the results of these tests are unclear and there is a chance that the nodules are cancer or a disease that needs treatment (like an infection), your doctor will do a biopsy. A biopsy is a test that can tell for certain what's causing your pulmonary nodules. During a biopsy, your doctor will get a sample of tissue from one of your pulmonary nodules. Then another doctor will look at the sample under a microscope. пїЅ пїЅ

There are different ways a doctor can do a biopsy. To get a sample of tissue from a pulmonary nodule, your doctor can: пїЅ пїЅ

Put a needle through your chest and into a nodule in your lungs
Do bronchoscopy to get a sample of tissue
Do surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule

What happens next? " пїЅ Based on your test results and individual situation, your doctor will decide if you need treatment for the nodules. пїЅ пїЅ

If your nodules are caused by a condition that needs treatment, your doctor will talk with you about what he or she recommends. пїЅ пїЅ

If your doctor thinks your nodules are a scar on your lungs, you probably won't need treatment. But you might need follow-up visits or CT scans to make sure your condition doesn't change or worsen over time. How often the scans are done depends on your individual situation. Most people have repeat CT scans over the course of about 2 years. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 87303 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

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Multiple Pulmonary Nodules

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