Will lung nodules develop into cancer?

News

Will lung nodules develop into cancer?

Will lung nodules develop into cancer? The treatment of nodules is based on personal circumstances to determine whether the nodules may develop into malignant tumors. You cannot blindly choose “one size fits all”.

In recent years, as people’s awareness of physical examinations has increased, many people have found pulmonary nodules. Every time a doctor sits in an outpatient clinic, a large proportion of people come to see lung nodules. Almost everyone asks the doctor to cut the nodules right away, because they are afraid of cancer!

Don’t panic everyone, the oncologist: more than 90% of lung nodules are not cancer!

Today, we will discuss what kind of lung nodules don’t care about them, and which ones should be cut immediately.

Not all bags are called lung nodules

Not all bags on the lung are called pulmonary nodules. According to the size of the tumor, the names are actually different!

Lesions ≤3cm are called nodules.
Lesions> 3 cm are called masses.
Nodules less than 1cm are called small nodules.
Nodules less than 5mm are called tiny nodules.

According to the density, it can be divided into solid nodules, pure ground glass nodules and partial solid nodules.

Under normal circumstances, solid nodules are more likely to be malignant, and ground-glass nodules are more benign. However, as people’s awareness of physical examination increases, more and more malignant ground-glass nodules have been discovered recently.

Why do lung nodules grow?

There are many reasons for lung nodules. Pulmonary nodules may appear in the manifestations of infection, inflammation, primary lung tumors, metastases, and other benign diseases.

01. Common causes of lung nodules: smoke, fog and other dust

The smoke, fog and other dust in the air we breathe in our daily life will eventually reach the alveoli through the nasal cavity and trachea. In the face of these foreign objects, the immune cells (such as white blood cells, macrophages, etc.) or lymph nodes in the lungs will “fight” with the dust, eat them or kill them with the dust in the battle. During the battle, nodules or calcification spots are formed on the surface of the lungs.

02. Lungs are traumatized and infected, lung nodules may appear

When the lungs are injured by impacts, or infected by bacteria such as tuberculosis, the immune cells or lymph nodes in the lungs will be played again. After a “fight”, some shadows or scars will be formed, and most of these shadows or scars become lung nodes. Section, only very few of them become lung tumors.

Lung nodules cannot be “one size fits all”

The treatment of nodules is based on personal circumstances to determine whether the nodules may develop into malignant tumors. You cannot blindly choose “one size fits all”.

Zhao Yanqiu said: “On the one hand, the removal of nodules may have the risk of damaging normal tissues. On the other hand, some lung nodules may’disappear’, so it is recommended that low-risk nodules should be observed.”

If the examination results show “irregular edges”, “burr sign”, “lobular sign”, “occupying lesions”, etc., it is recommended to consult a doctor.

For patients with solid lung nodules, if there are no high-risk factors such as smoking, family history of lung cancer, etc.:

The diameter of pulmonary nodules is less than 6mm, no need for routine follow-up;
The diameter of pulmonary nodules is 6mm-8mm, it is recommended to review CT in 6-12 months;
For lung nodules> 8mm in diameter, it is recommended to review CT, PET-CT, needle biopsy or surgical resection at 3 months.
For patients with solid lung nodules, a history of smoking, family history of lung cancer and other high-risk factors:
If the diameter of lung nodules is less than 6mm, it is recommended to check CT for 12 months. If there is no abnormality, routine follow-up is not required;
The diameter of pulmonary nodules is 6mm-8mm. It is recommended to check CT in 6-12 months. If there is no abnormality, check CT in 18-24 months;
Pulmonary nodules> 8mm, it is recommended to review CT, PET-CT, needle biopsy or surgical resection at 3 months.
For subsolid lung nodules (ground glass nodules):
The diameter of pulmonary nodules is less than 6mm, no need for routine follow-up;
For lung nodules> 6mm in diameter, it is recommended to check CT for 6-12 months to see if there is any growth or change in solid components, and then check CT every two years until 5 years.