The main cause of the pulmonary nodule is lung infection, although it must be ruled out whenever it is not a carcinogenic process.
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When we hear about a pulmonary nodule, the first thought that comes to mind is cancer. However, although sometimes both pathologies are related, it can be a benign process.
A pulmonary nodule is a mass that appears in the lung that can measure between five and thirty millimeters . It is an increasingly frequent pathology, which is estimated to affect around 0.2% of the population. However, almost 60% of these nodules are benign.
The causes of this disease are varied , from an infection to a tumor process . Most of them are found accidentally when performing a CT scan - computed axial tomography - or an x-ray.
It is important to diagnose this situation early to avoid complications and rule out that it is something more serious. Therefore, in this article we explain everything you need to know about the pulmonary nodule and what symptoms it produces.
What are the causes of a pulmonary nodule?
As we have already mentioned, a pulmonary nodule is a mass that appears in the lung . Therefore its causes can be very varied. Most often they are secondary to an infection, either by bacteria, fungi or parasites.
Among the infectious causes, it should be noted that pulmonary nodules are common in people affected by tuberculosis . Although the incidence has been decreasing, it is still an infection with relative frequency.
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Neoplastic cause
Currently, the first thing to rule out before a pulmonary nodule is that it is a carcinogenic process. This is because lung cancer is one of the most frequent due, among other things, to smoking.
In these cases the nodules usually have an irregular appearance on the radiograph, with poorly defined edges . They are also usually smaller than benign ones and, in addition, are associated with certain risk factors , such as:
Being a smoker
Be over 35 years old.
Having had a cancer before.
That the pulmonary nodule has grown rapidly in recent months.
However, it is important to know that not all neoplastic lung nodules are malignant. There are also certain benign tumors, although the truth is that they are much less frequent than the previous ones.
The pulmonary nodule can be accidentally detected on an x-ray
Other causes of the pulmonary nodule
There are other diseases that can result in this lung disorder. For example, there are certain autoimmune processes such as Wegener's granulomatosis or rheumatoid nodule . Both are uncommon.
Similarly, in some people the pulmonary nodule may appear due to trauma, a metabolic disease called amyloidosis or after the genesis of a bronchial cyst.
How is the pulmonary nodule diagnosed?
To diagnose the pulmonary nodule and know its cause, it is first essential to make a good medical history of that person. You have to know if you have had tuberculosis or if you have been exposed to certain infections or infected people.
It is also important to know if it is a smoker or not. Numerous studies have shown that a large part of the nodules are carcinogenic and that they are related to tobacco.
Once this is done, it is necessary to perform certain imaging tests to locate the nodule. In addition, the images allow us to observe certain characteristics such as shape and size, which are important to differentiate a benign from a possibly malignant one.
The most commonly used are chest radiography and computed tomography. To know exactly the cause of the pulmonary nodule, biopsies are sometimes performed that allow the tissue that forms it to be analyzed.
The medical examination is complemented by imaging tests and, if necessary, a biopsy
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What is the treatment of choice?
The treatment will depend on the cause of the nodule. First, when it is due to an infectious process, it may not require treatment or antibiotics or antifungals are prescribed to stop the infection.
When the cause is not known clearly the treatment is oriented according to the risk of cancer. For example, in young non-smokers, whose nodule does not appear to be malignant, it may only be necessary to periodically check. This will check if the nodule changes or grows.
On the other hand, if there is a risk of cancer, the most important thing is to perform the biopsy . If it was indeed carcinogenic, surgery may be required to remove it. When surgery is unfeasible, chemotherapy or radiotherapy is chosen.
To conclude, it is essential to highlight the negative influence of tobacco again. We must be aware of the risk involved and have frequent medical check-ups in order to diagnose this type of pathology soon.
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