Respiratory - Lung Nodule

What is a lung nodule?

A lung nodule is a small, round or oval spot in the lung, usually found on a CT scan or sometimes a chest X-ray.

• Most nodules are very small (often less than 1 cm)
• They do not usually cause symptoms
• They are commonly found incidentally when scans are done for other reasons

How common are lung nodules?

Lung nodules are very common.

• Around 1 in 4 people, especially smokers or ex-smokers, may have nodules
• They can also occur in people who have never smoked Most lung nodules are NOT cancer.

What causes lung nodules?

Most nodules are benign (non-cancerous) and may be due to:

• Previous chest infections or inflammation
• Scarring in the lung
• Past infections such as tuberculosis (TB)
• Non-cancerous growths

In a small number of cases, a nodule may represent an early lung cancer or rarely spread from another cancer.

What happens next?

In most cases, we monitor the nodule with scans:

• Repeat CT scan at 3 months, 6 months, or longer intervals
• Follow-up may continue for up to 5 years

The timing depends on various factors including the size and appearance of the nodule and other medical conditions. You will be informed when your next scan is due. If you don’t hear from the radiology department about an appointment within 4 weeks of when it is due, then please contact the relevant team (contact details below).

What are the possible outcomes?

No change or smaller:

• Most nodules remain stable or disappear
• You may be discharged from follow-up

Growth or change:

•    Further tests may be required. Your medical team will discuss this with you and arrange any further tests that are required

Why is follow-up important?

Benefits:

• Detect any nodules which are cancer sooner, although most lung nodules do not turn out to be cancerous
• Avoids unnecessary invasive procedures

Risks:

• Small exposure to radiation from CT scans (the same as approximately 6 months background radiation that we are all exposed to)
• Possible need for further investigations

The benefits of monitoring far outweigh the risks.

When should I seek medical advice?

Please contact your GP urgently if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Coughing up blood
• Persistent or worsening shortness of breath
• Ongoing chest pain
• Recurrent chest infections

Who reviews my case?

Your scans are reviewed by the specialist respiratory team and in some cases a multidisciplinary team (MDT) including respiratory consultants, radiologists, lung cancer specialists, and specialist nurses.

How will I get my results?

After each scan, results will be reviewed by the specialist lung team and communicated via letter, telephone, or clinic appointment. If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the scan, please contact the team.

Contact Information

For Bury, Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton patients please contact the Lung Pathway Specialist Nurse on 0161 778 3217.

For Oldham patients, please contact the Lung Pathway Nurses on 0161 627 8538.

For Salford patients, please contact the Lung Cancer Specialist Nurses on 0161 206 5771/1498.