Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
What Causes Nodules In Lungs?
Hi. My father recently went in for an x-Ray for his chest and they found some nodules on his lungs and heart. Hes in the military so one time when he was stationed in Japan he was exposed to TB but the doctors never found anything wrong just that he had 4 nodules on his lungs. But when he went to the doctor this time the found fifteen on his lungs and including his heart. They were never harmful before but now I m worried. The doctors are doing a procedure in a few days that will scrape the growths to see if their cancerous or not. I m just hoping you could give me some answers. Thanks
Fri, 12 Jun 2020
Hi,
Brief answer: Multiple nodules in the the lungs has many causes including cancerous, autoimmune, infectious, and embolic etiologies.
Detailed answer: Multiple pulmonary nodules has many causes, but is most often metastatic disease from a primary tumor of the lung or other source. Patient history and imaging findings can help narrow down the causes. Radiation, which your father may have been exposed to while stationed in Japan, increases the risk of cancer. It is also possible that your father was exposed to silica dust, which can cause silicosis, and this could be the cause of the lung nodules. Tuberculosis can also cause multiple nodules in the lungs. Fungal infection and non-infectious inflammatory conditions like vasculitis, sarcoidosis, and amyloidosis are additional causes of multiple pulmonary nodules.
Lung biopsy will help establish the cause of the nodules and guide management and treatment. I encourage you and your father to discuss your concerns with his doctors.
Hope this helps answer your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Aaron Shapiro
Brief answer: Multiple nodules in the the lungs has many causes including cancerous, autoimmune, infectious, and embolic etiologies.
Detailed answer: Multiple pulmonary nodules has many causes, but is most often metastatic disease from a primary tumor of the lung or other source. Patient history and imaging findings can help narrow down the causes. Radiation, which your father may have been exposed to while stationed in Japan, increases the risk of cancer. It is also possible that your father was exposed to silica dust, which can cause silicosis, and this could be the cause of the lung nodules. Tuberculosis can also cause multiple nodules in the lungs. Fungal infection and non-infectious inflammatory conditions like vasculitis, sarcoidosis, and amyloidosis are additional causes of multiple pulmonary nodules.
Lung biopsy will help establish the cause of the nodules and guide management and treatment. I encourage you and your father to discuss your concerns with his doctors.
Hope this helps answer your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Aaron Shapiro
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Loading Online Doctors....