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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
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Lung Cancer |
Calcified Lung Mass01/13/2011 |
My daughter has a 9cm calcified lung mass. That first showed up 3 months ago when she was diagnosed with pneumonia. Follow CXR shows no change. They are now ordering a follow up CT.The first thought of course is cancer, but what else could this be?
Thank you for your question.A calcified lung nodule in most cases is not malignant. It usually is an old infection or a benign lesion. However, depending on the pattern of calcification it can represent a malignant process as well in a small number of cases. You did not mention your daughter's age as it is a major factor in suggesting whether this is a malignant or benign process.
There is a long list of diagnoses associated with a calcified nodule. They are granuloma (benign process from old contained fungal infection or immunologic response); hamartoma (benign developmental growth); osteosarcoma (malignant tumor of bone spreading to lung); and cancer (either primarily from lung or from somewhere else in the body spreading to the lungs).
A Chest X-ray shows a lung nodule however, it is not as detailed as a CT scan to show the pattern of calcification as well as the size and shape of the nodule in all 3 dimensions. That is the reason your physician probably wanted to have a follow up CT scan.
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Shaheen Islam, MD, MPH Clinical Associate Professor Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Hematology College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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