How Can A Pulmonary Nodule Be Treated?

Posted on Thu, 23 Mar 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 Answered on

Sat, 15 Apr 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : On 12/31/15 I had an xray of my chest showed a 1.8 Nodule--been there for 5 years.
Now it shows a 3.32 X 2.7CM poorly marginated pulmonary lesion in the left perihilary/upper lobe region. No Lymph node involvement yet..HAVE CT SCAN WITH CONTRAST SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW.My doctor said she does not think it cancer I am 75 years of age and quit smoking 40 years ago. She said could be scar tissue or infection.. Gave me Z pak and my cough is much better. I keep lookinjg for a different answer .... What could cause this nodule to grow if its not cancer..what else could it be? I keep hearing possibility of maglinant tumor!! Why does she say this possibility it is not cancer!! Somebody must have the answer to this... Driving myself crazy with worry

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
If it is not cancer then possibility of Scar tissue is more.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on HealthcareMagic.
I can understand your concern.

So basically you are dealing with slow growing pulmonary nodule.

And honestly speaking, with progressive age, with past history of smoking, slow growing nodules must be evaluated for malignancy.

If it is not malignant nodule then possibility of Scar tissue is more likely.

I don't know why your doctor is so much sure about benign etiology.
Better to get done a repeat CT scan after 10-12 months and compare the nodule size.

Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee