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What Do The Presence Of Nodules In Chest X Ray Report Suggest?
Question: pulmonary nodules:
In August 2012 a minor scarring at the lower left lung was seen in a plain chest x-ray ..
In November 2012 a repeat chest x-ray revealed no change ..
In November 2012 a CT chest showed minor subpleural nodularity (maximum nodule size 6 mm) at the lower left lung
In May 2013 a repeat CT chest showed stable nodules (no change at all)
Does my 73 years old mother who has been suffering from asthma for more than 30 years need to repeat CT chest? She has not got any new symptoms other than usual asthma symptoms. If those nodules were cancerous, how long it would take to start giving symptoms? What is the average doubling time for malignant nodules? Given the fact that a repeat CT chest within 6 months (Nov 2012 - May 2013) showed no change, what is the possibility for these nodules to be cancerous?
Best regards
In August 2012 a minor scarring at the lower left lung was seen in a plain chest x-ray ..
In November 2012 a repeat chest x-ray revealed no change ..
In November 2012 a CT chest showed minor subpleural nodularity (maximum nodule size 6 mm) at the lower left lung
In May 2013 a repeat CT chest showed stable nodules (no change at all)
Does my 73 years old mother who has been suffering from asthma for more than 30 years need to repeat CT chest? She has not got any new symptoms other than usual asthma symptoms. If those nodules were cancerous, how long it would take to start giving symptoms? What is the average doubling time for malignant nodules? Given the fact that a repeat CT chest within 6 months (Nov 2012 - May 2013) showed no change, what is the possibility for these nodules to be cancerous?
Best regards
Brief Answer:
No need to worry for malignant nodules.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, no need to worry for malignant lung nodules in your mother's case.
Answer to your 1st question.
If these nodules are malignant than she must have symptomatic by now. It's almost 3 years now. And this time is sufficient for the growth of cancerous nodule and show symptoms.
Answer to your 2nd question.
Doubling time depends on type of malignancy. Small cell carcinoma has doubling time of 60 days.
Squamous and adenocarcinoma have doubling time of around 120-140 days.
Answer to your 3rd question.
In my opinion, possibility of malignant nodule is very very less. So no need to worry for malignancy in her case because she is not having worsening of symptoms.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.
No need to worry for malignant nodules.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, no need to worry for malignant lung nodules in your mother's case.
Answer to your 1st question.
If these nodules are malignant than she must have symptomatic by now. It's almost 3 years now. And this time is sufficient for the growth of cancerous nodule and show symptoms.
Answer to your 2nd question.
Doubling time depends on type of malignancy. Small cell carcinoma has doubling time of 60 days.
Squamous and adenocarcinoma have doubling time of around 120-140 days.
Answer to your 3rd question.
In my opinion, possibility of malignant nodule is very very less. So no need to worry for malignancy in her case because she is not having worsening of symptoms.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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