PILL series. The solitary pulmonary nodule.
- Author:
Jansen Meng Kwang KOH
1
;
Gerald Jit Shen TAN
;
Choon How HOW
Author Information
1. Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- MeSH:
Aged;
Diagnostic Imaging;
methods;
Humans;
Lung Diseases;
diagnosis;
Lung Neoplasms;
diagnosis;
Middle Aged;
Pulmonary Medicine;
methods;
Radiography;
methods;
Radiography, Thoracic;
methods;
Risk Assessment;
methods;
Risk Factors;
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule;
diagnosis
- From:Singapore medical journal
2012;53(6):372-quiz 376
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The solitary pulmonary nodule on chest X-ray (CXR) is a common problem in pulmonary medicine. Its presence raises the question of lung cancer. As five-year survival after resection of a solitary bronchogenic carcinoma can be as high as 80%, prompt evaluation is crucial. This should begin with a cancer risk assessment based on clinical and radiographic factors. The risk and benefits of surgery should next be assessed, and together with the patient's preferences, a management plan can be decided upon. Surgery is recommended for patients at high risk of malignancy with a low surgical risk, while careful observation is adopted for patients at low risk of malignancy coupled with a high surgical risk. Further diagnostic tests may be warranted to aid in this decision process. Although CXR is not useful for lung cancer screening, low-dose computed tomography imaging is increasingly recommended for individuals at high risk for lung cancer.
