Lung Nodule or Pulmonary Nodule is a descriptive term in medical imaging. Sometimes referred to as “coin lesions,” these small spots or shadows appear on the lung during an imaging test such as a CT scan.

A lung nodule is a mass of tissue that forms in the lung, which can be round or irregular. They are usually less than 1.2 inches (30 mms) in diameter, although most are under 10 mm. If a spot or shadow is larger than 1.2 inches, it is a lung mass which may have a higher chance of being cancer.

A lung nodule is quite common, about 50% of adults have one or more on the lungs. It’s often an incidental finding during an imaging test for unrelated purposes. The advancement of imaging technologies has led to an increase in detecting lung nodules.

Due to their small size, lung nodules usually cause no noticeable symptoms.Sometimes lung nodules are accompanied by coughing or wheezing. However, they’re usually the result of other causes rather than nodules.

Only in rare cases, when it become large enough to press the airway or it’s cancer, can a lung nodule cause symptoms. These commonly involve coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath. Sometimes people may experience chest/back pain, unexplained weight loss, and coughing up blood.

According to their density, lung nodules consist of 3 types: non-solid (pure ground glass), partly solid (mixed ground glass), or solid.

Lung nodules are often not a cause for concern, as 95% of them are non-cancerous (benign). They are the result of abnormal growths, infections, scar tissue, inflammation, tuberculosis, fibrosis, etc. Nevertheless, only a minor percentage turns out to be cancerous (malignant), especially in older individuals and heavy smokers.

If it’s cancerous, a lung nodule is usually at an early stage. As being detected early, it’s easier to cure. So don’t panic if you’re told you have a nodule on the lung, even if it’s cancerous!