i dont know the answer to that question as to how many nodules or the area involved before a person would be expected to experience shortness of breath. a few no, many yes, how many exactly has never been explained to me. shortness of breath could also relate to the cause of the nodules.

i have read that a concentration of nodules in an area is usually related to infection such as TB. sarcoidosis would be diffuse and not confined to a single area.