Solitary pulmonary nodule

A solitary round or oval density , sharply delineated, of less than 3 cms and larger than 5 mm in diameter.

Most common causes are

• Lung cancer
• Benign tumor
• Granuloma

Rare causes are

• AV fistula
• Rheumatoid nodule
• Solitary metastasis

Round pneumonia can present as solitary pulmonary nodule.

Stability in size for two years and presence of calcification are hall marks of a benign lesion.

PET scans are useful to distinguish benign from malignant lesions.

Nodules less than 5 mm

Lesions smaller than 5 mm are very common and many are non specific and has a different diagnostic algorhythm.

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