Solitary Pulmonary Nodule

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Medical Author:

George Schiffman, MD, FCCP

George Schiffman, MD, FCCP

Dr. Schiffman received his B.S. degree with High Honors in biology from Hobart College in 1976. He then moved to Chicago where he studied biochemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle. He attended Rush Medical College where he received his M.D. degree in 1982 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his Internal Medicine internship and residency at the University of California, Irvine.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Overview
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Causes
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Symptoms
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Diagnosis
• Imaging
• Biopsies
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Treatment
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Surgery
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Prevention
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Prognosis
• Support Groups and Counseling
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Pictures
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Author and Editor
• Viewer Comments: Solitary Pulmonary Nodule - Cause

A solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is a single abnormality in the lung that is smaller than 3 cm in diameter. Generally, a pulmonary nodule must grow to at least 1 cm in diameter before it can be seen on a chest X-ray film.

A solitary pulmonary nodule is surrounded by normal lung tissue and is not associated with any other abnormality in the lung or nearby lymph nodes (small, bean-shaped structures found throughout the body).

Persons with solitary pulmonary nodules usually do not experience symptoms. Solitary pulmonary nodules are usually noticed by chance on a chest X-ray film that has been taken for another reason (referred to as an incidental finding). Solitary pulmonary nodules are one of the most common abnormalities seen on chest X-ray films. Approximately 150,000 cases are detected every year as incidental findings, either on X-ray films or CT scans.

Most solitary pulmonary nodules are benign (noncancerous); however, they may represent an early stage of primary lung cancer or may indicate that cancer is metastasizing (spreading) from another part of the body to the lung. Determining whether the solitary pulmonary nodule seen on the chest X-ray film or chest CT scan is benign or malignant (cancerous) is important. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of early lung cancer that presents as solitary pulmonary nodule may be the only chance to cure the cancer.

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