[The solitary pulmonary nodule]

Rev Med Suisse. 2008 Nov 19;4(180):2506-10.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The incidental discovery of a solitary pulmonary nodule while performing a CT scan of the chest is a very common clinical problem. The differential diagnosis is large but the main clinical challenge is to exclude or ascertain a neoplasia. The evaluation of preexisting risk factors and the analysis of morphological characteristics of the nodule allow the clinician to solve this challenge in a significant number of cases. When the nature of the lesion remains indeterminate a careful follow-up with volumetric determination is necessary for decision making.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Radiography
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* / diagnostic imaging
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* / etiology
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* / pathology
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome