Treatment:

Ask your doctor about the risks of a biopsy versus monitoring the size of the nodule with regular x-rays.

Reasons for a biopsy or removing the nodule may include:

• Smoking
• The nodule size has grown compared to earlier x-rays
• A CT scan suggests the lesion is malignant (cancerous)

Expectations (prognosis):

The outlook is generally good if the nodule is benign. If the nodule does not grow larger over a 2-year period, under most circumstances nothing more need be done. On occasion, the appearance of the nodule on CT scan may warrant continued follow-up.

Calling your health care provider:

A solitary pulmonary nodule is usually found by your health care professional when a chest x-ray is performed for some other reason.