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Lung Center

What are the lung bases?

05/05/2008 09:54AM

Question:

I had a recent CT scan of the abdomen and pelvic withcout contrast-- (due to kidney stones)--- report indicated the lung bases are significant for a 4 mm. nodule in the right lower lobe-----Can you explain what the lung bases is? AND if this is a anything to be worried about? What further tests would need to be done to follow up on this?

Answer:

The bases of the lungs are the bottom parts of the lungs. Incidental nodules are very common when CTs are done. Usually, these represent old scars from an asymptomatic infection with Histoplasmosis, a fungus that lives in the soil in the Ohio River Valley. Rarely, they can represent other things, including early lung cancer. Further evaluation of these nodules is based on recommendations that consider each person's risk of cancer, including the size of the nodule, smoking history, etc. You should discuss this with your doctor.

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Response by:

The Ohio State University James M. O'Brien, Jr., MD
Assistant Professor - Clinical
Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University
James M. O'Brien, Jr., MD