Solitary Pulmonary Nodule

[suzanneLind]

I recently went to the emergency room due to some chest pain and my breaking out in a cold sweat. The ER doc ordered a chest xray which was clear, and a CT scan of chest with contrast to rule out a blood clot. There was no clot, but the radiologist said he found a "tiny 3mm nodule on the upper right lobe of the lung, not clinically significant, and likely a granuloma". He did not indicate a concern or need for follow-up. I am a worrier in general, so I did my own follow up with an excellent pulmonologist/thoracic surgeon at NYU Hospital (excellent team) who said he could not believe the radiologist even "called" this thing, that he had a hard time localizing it on the scan and no need to worry. He said "you don't need me"...I asked about a follow up and he said "if you want, you can re scan in 6 months". I, of course, will do that as is my nature.

I am 45 years old, in excellent health, no personal or family history of cancer. I was an on-and-off social smoker only in my 20s - a few cigs with friends here and there at parties with many days or weeks of cessation in between smoking. Quit TOTALLY 12 years ago.

Is this a reasonable approach? and what are the chances this is malignant? I read all diff. things on the web from 40% chance of malignancy for all lung nodules, to less than 1% chance a nodule of his size is malignant. AND aren't all nodules, even cancerous ones, this tiny at some point? The irony here is my Mom is 72, smoked a pack of day for 55 years (not around the kids) and her lungs are fine.

[Davy9]

Watching a nodule on initial diagnosis is routine, and that is when they definitely feel that they have one located. A re-examination in 6 months time is the accepted practice.