and do to family history, I wanted to have a CT coronary angiogram done. It was pretty good,and I will post results. But the radiologist said when you get that done here, we also do lungs for free. I said great!

The lung CT picked up something.
Findings- An 8mm nodule is noted at the antero-basal left lobe. the remainder of the lungs are clear. No endobronchial lesion,pleural effusion or lymphadenopathy is seen. The heart and great vessels are unremarkable.

Conclusion-
8mm nodule left lower lobe. The appearances are too small to further characterise? Granuloma? Other? Progress CT is recommended in 3months for further assesment.

2 years ago during one of my emergency room visits for panic/autonomic matters, my ESR was high and they decided to look for clots. They did a lung MRI which was completely clear. So this nodule formed in the last 2 years.

So I am a bit concerned about this right now,and I see my doctor in 2 weeks for follow-up.

Nodules on the lung are pretty common, i believe around 30% of the population. Very few of those are cancerous. It could be mucous, something you inhaled, or as the result of a previous infection. Its a waiting game and going back in 3 months for a CT is all you can do. I have the same thing going on, only they found 10 on my lungs, whereas 3 years previous i had none. They are having me wait 6 months. Good luck.

I seem to have a propensity towards granulomas,as I remember years ago, I had ovarian fibroid tumours (full investigation) done. Benign

I had 2 small calcifiactions from granulomas on liver (full investigation) done.

Most recently, I had felt a small lump in breast and had my first mamogram and a fine needle biopsy. My lump did not show up anywhere,but they saw a 2 other clumps of something else that concerned them, and they wanted to the biopsy. Findings Benign clumps. Basically I have lumpy breasts,but no surprise there.

I just wasn't expecting yet another clump of something. I admit I was a bit depressed yesterday, and last night I posted on the forum,and then I erased it because I didn't like the sounds of it after I read it.

I am a bit better today, but this is just one more thing that needs monitoring and following up,and I'm feeling a bit weary of things popping up. I haven't mentioned the breast scare nor will I mention this to my parents as I know that they will worry themselves, and I don't want to do that to them. They are getting older and have enough of their own medical stuff to worry about.

I just have to hold my breath and hold on to my faith once again here.

May I ask what they think could have caused your nodules,and has there been changes,how often do they CT,and at what point do they biopsy?

I had a large (3+ cm diameter) lung lesion in the upper right lobe about 1 1/2 years ago, associated with lobar pneumonia. The lesion looked like an octopus in a CT scan, really ugly.

A biopsy showed no bacteria or fungus, but missed the lesion. Lung biopsy's aren't trivial. I was in hospital for three days with a collapsed lung and coughed blood for a week after the first one. A follow-up biopsy again missed the lesion, but turned up 1 stinking adenocarcinoma cell. How can there be only one? At least my lung didn't collapse that time, but I again coughed up blood for a week, and felt like somebody made a hole in my lung.

My pulmonary specialist is Chairperson of the Dept of Pulmonary Medicine at Scripps Clinic here in San Diego. I trust her judgment. Her plan was similar to your plan except because of finding a cancer cell, I also had a PET scan the next week to look for metabolic activity. That was negative. The PET scan is a miserable experience with arms strapped with Velcro and being fully inserted into a maybe 75 cm. diameter tube. The entire 1/2 hour was spent fighting claustrophobic panic.

For the lesion I had a repeat CT scan in four months. The lesion shrunk a bit, so the next scan was in six months. It shrunk further. The next scan will be in 9 months, then annually if all is well.

My doctor's theory is that I had fungal pneumonia that had cleared by the time of my first CT scan. The lesion was caused by the fungus and my body's successful battle to destroy it.

Every day's a gift, even with PN.

Yep they are pretty common and Joe and David did a good job explaing.
Your Dr. will want to keep a eye on them for awhile,but to be honest
many people have them,if you smoke please stop. cause i like you,
Sue

Hi Aussie, my nodules are from microscopic particles i have inhaled in the past. This was the first cat scan that showed nodules. I had one in the spring of 2004 that showed no nodules. This one was in May, so i have to go back and take another one in November. If they grow then they will biopsy them. Its definitely no picnic getting a lung biopsy to i hope they dont grow.

David i would go out of my mind if they strapped my arms down and i had to stay in there for 30 minutes, unless maybe someone i knew held my foot. I was in an mri, the first time with my arms over my head, which got uncomfortable but i figured i could pull myself out. The second one with my arms at my sides, i couldnt move, so i call the tech and no one answers....ive been trapped and buried before so i was really po'd at him got out and then went to an open place. I told him before I went in that i had been trapped before, which he ignored. I was just looking at pictures of pet scans and some seem deep like an mri and some seem much shorter like a cat scan.

Thank you David,Joe & Sue. In the midst of my worry, I had a bit of a chuckle with the description of the MRI. Especially the bit about someone holding your foot Joe! LOL!

I remember when I had my "closed" MRI I was in there one hour,as they did brain & spine. As I lay practicly naked in this long dark tunnel, I remember thinking "This really really stinks!

And then they pulled me out after a half hour, to reset and do the 2nd MRI,and as I was laying there in this cold sterile room alone, this nurse came in, and she stroked my hair for a second. That tiny little gesture made me me feel so much better, I can't even explain it.

Anyways, I just wanted to say thank you guys for sharing your experience, I'm feeling BETTER!

Thank you

They had to give me medication for my head MRI because I am claustrophobic. It was great. I knew I was in there and I didn't care. Some drugs are just miracle drugs and I am so grateful for them.

Aussie---While most lung nodules like that are innocent, I don't think I'd feel comfortable, myself, without a pulmonary specialist agreeing. If it were me, I'd ask for a consultation with one, and let him review the CT. You did take a copy of the films with you, didnt' you? If not, you disobeyed LizaJane's first rule of patienthood: Take all your labs and test copies when you walk out of the office. Never leave without them.

Not to worry you, but I do think a second opinion is in order.

I did take the film with me,as I ave to show to GP. THis was a "coincidental" finding as they say. I have no lung symptoms or breathing problems.

I read that they are usually found in this way.

When I see him he will review it,and the radiologist suggests repeat of CT in 3months.