I had a lobectomy (RUL) two years ago for moderately aggressive adenocarcinoma stage 1a. My recent CT scan showed a 6mm solid non - calcified pleural nodule in the LEFT lower lobe which was not present in previous scans with most recent scan being 6 months ago. No infiltrate or pleural effusion present. There are also two small fissural nodules which are unchanged for 2 years.
6mm is small and I would not typically be overly concerned but the pleural location makes me wonder about metastasis. I will be having another scan in 3 months. I have read articles indicating that pleural nodules are frequently metastasis.
Thank you so much for any information you may provide.
Reply # - July 15, 2018, 01:59 PM
Hi Debbie,
Hi Debbie,
Welcome back to GRACE. I hope this turns out to be a benign or transient lesion.
I'm not aware of a single pleural nodule, in the absence of other signs of pleural disease, to be more likely to be metastasis than a single nodule in the lung tissue itself. Can you share a reference for one of the articles you read?
Reply # - July 15, 2018, 02:18 PM
Hi onthemark, thanks for
Hi onthemark, thanks for your reply! I was not all that worried until I read this article. What do you think?
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=…
Reply # - July 15, 2018, 03:44 PM
I think the fact that you don
I think the fact that you don't have a pleural effusion, or more than one new or growing nodule anywhere in the scan is a good sign. It isn't necessarily a tumour at this point, but a lesion on a ct scan.
My impression, which could be wrong, is that metastatic cancer involving the pleura typically presents as a diffuse nodular disease rather than a single lesion. How does the radiologist describe the lesion and what is his/her overall impression?
Reply # - July 15, 2018, 07:01 PM
Yes, I think no effusion is a
Yes, I think no effusion is a good sign, too. I don't know if one lesion is as concerning as diffuse. I know I'll have to wait to see what happens in the next 3 months (waiting is the worst part) but I just like to be as educated as possible so I know what questions to ask.
The only description on the report was: posterior left lower lobe 6mm nodule not present previously - no infiltrate or effusion. My pulmonologist said it is solid and non-calcified. He was upbeat but said it needed to be watched carefully. The radiologist recommended a short term CT scan.There was nothing about shape, spiculated, etc.
Reply # - July 15, 2018, 09:11 PM
Hi Debbie,
Hi Debbie,
I hope it's a transient infection and gone next scan. Waiting is awful.
Keep us posted,
Janine
Reply # - July 16, 2018, 04:22 AM
Thanks Janine,
Thanks Janine,
Your support is helpful!
Debbie
Reply # - July 16, 2018, 07:06 AM
Thanks Debbie,
Thanks Debbie,
I'm not seeing where the radiologist wrote it was in the pleura, or abutting it? or close to it??
Reply # - July 16, 2018, 08:16 AM
Hi Debbie,
Hi Debbie,
The distinction between a metastatic pleura nodule and one which is not metastatic is determined by how it got there. If cancer cells spread to the bloodstream or lymph system, then a nodule is metastatic. But as Dr. Weiss has said:
“Invasion of pleura alone does not make lung cancer stage IV. Invasion of visceral pleura makes NSCLC T2. Invasion of the chest wall or mediastinal pleura makes NSCLC T3. This would be stage II or III then, depending on nodes. Things that make a cancer stage IV are distant spread or malignant pleural effusion (fluid on the lung that contains cancer cells).” - http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php?topic=7328.0
So if the lung tumor abuts the chest wall or mediastinal pleura, it is likely to have directly invaded the pleura rather than having cancer cells in the bloodstream.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - July 16, 2018, 09:28 AM
That's a good point Jim.
That's a good point Jim. Thank you for clarifying.
Reply # - July 16, 2018, 07:36 PM
On the mark,
On the mark,
I just didn't mention the location when paraphrasing the radiologist report.
Thanks for your help, and take care!
Jim,
I have had a hard time finding much information about pleural nodules and the little bit I found discussed metastatic cancer. I feel more at ease when I understand what is happening and what the next steps would be if the nodule does grow in the next three months.
I very much appreciate everyone's help!
Debbie
Reply # - January 5, 2025, 07:34 AM
Update?
Any update? I also have a single pleural based nodule and am seeing only the same info you did. Waiting for more follow up.
MH
Reply # - January 5, 2025, 03:41 PM
Hi and welcome to GRACE. I…
Hi and welcome to GRACE. I'm so sorry you're going through this and can only imagine what it's like.
What I can say from experience reading what others have felt is that your anxiety will lessen considerably when you have a plan in place. You probably can't find much info because it's not common to have a primary tumor there. However, there are oncologists who have experience with this. Make certain you have the info those onc have when putting together a plan. This is a good post on the subject of second opinions.
A primary tumor that infiltrates visceral or parietal pleura is staged as a T2 or T3 lesion, respectively. Some T2/T3 lesions are potentially resectable. So, what Jim said.
The rest of treatment planning will depend on individual circumstances that can seem endless but soon you will have a plan that fits your individual needs.
On a personal note, my husband had a primary tumor that reached into his chest wall destroyed a couple of ribs, and reached into his brachial plexus. That was 2009. He was treated with chemo/rads and quite a bit more chemo. He is alive and living life today. And treatment has evolved a great deal since then.
Don't hesitate to ask when you have questions...here or of your onc team.
Take care,
Janine
I joined GRACE as a caregiver for my husband who had a Pancoast tumor, NSCLC stage III in 2009. He had curative chemo/rads then it was believed he had a recurrence in the spine/oligometastasis that was radiated. He's 10 years out from treatment.