"JAMA" study finds that at least 95% of lung nodules are benign

importance:

Pulmonary nodules are found in approximately 1.
6 million patients in the United States each year, and can be detected in approximately 30% of chest computed tomography (CT) images
.

The optimal treatment for patients with lung nodules can detect cancer early while minimizing the discovery of benign nodules
.

observe:

At least 95% of lung nodules are benign, most commonly granulomas or intrapulmonary lymph nodes
.

Subsolid nodules are divided into ground glass nodules (no solid component) and partially solid nodules (both ground glass and solid components)
.

All nodules smaller than 6 mm had a less than 1% chance of malignancy, and nodules between 6 mm and 8 mm had a 1% to 2% chance of malignancy
.

Depending on risk factors and imaging features associated with lung malignancy, clinical judgment of malignancy probability, and patient preference, nodules 6 to 8 mm can be reviewed by chest CT within 6 to 12 months
.

Treatment for solid pulmonary nodules 8 mm or larger is based on the estimated probability of malignancy; the presence of comorbidities in the patient, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease; and patient preference
.

Management options include surveillance imaging, defined as monitoring of nodule growth by chest CT imaging, PET-CT imaging, nonsurgical biopsy using bronchoscopy or transthoracic needle biopsy, and surgical resection
.

Partial solid pulmonary nodules were treated according to the size of the solid component
.

When ground-glass pulmonary nodules persist for more than 3 months and are larger than 10 mm in diameter, the probability of malignancy is 10% to 50%
.

Malignant nodules with a completely ground-glass appearance usually grow slowly
.

Conclusion and Significance:

In the United States, lung nodules are found in about 1.

Treatment of patients with pulmonary nodules should be guided by the malignant potential of the nodule, the safety of testing, the informative potential of additional testing, and patient preference

(Source: Internet, reference only)