Bilobed lung nodule - 1273760

mary1
Posts:3

50 year old female stopped smoking 17yrs ago has 7mm peripheral bilobed nodule in lower left lung. Is bilobed more likely to be Cancer . To have bronchoscopy with BAL and biopsy . Is it best to wait and see if any change
Thanks mary1

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Reply # - April 25, 2016, 08:35 AM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi Mary,

Welcome to GRACE. I haven't found any source which states that such a nodule is more likely to be cancer than another of that size and location. The question of whether to have the bronchoscopy and try to biopsy the nodule is a judgment call by your doctors. At times there are features of a nodules which make it more likely to be cancer, which Dr. West discusses here. With such a small nodule (and assuming nothing else is seen on the scan), it would also be reasonable to watch and wait, with a follow up scan to check for growth.

Good luck with the path you choose.

JimC
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Reply # - July 22, 2016, 05:39 AM

mary1
Posts: 3

Hi I had biopsy where the lesion wasn't reached that was in June, follow up scan few days ago (Over 3 months since first ct) showed several new nodules in left lung one with ground glass appearance . No change in original 7mm bilobed lesion. Will see Pulmonologist next week . Tests for TB , fungal etc came back NAD
Thanks Mary 1

Reply # - July 22, 2016, 05:57 PM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi Mary,

It sounds as though if this actually is cancer (which apparently is still not determined), so far it has shown itself to be fairly indolent, judging by the lack of growth of the 7mm nodule over the course of 3 months. Even in the context of an established lung cancer diagnosis, Dr. West has stressed the importance of not over-treating such indolent disease. He has devised a very helpful algorithm to guide treatment decisions for such cancers, which you can find here. As you can see from his post, waiting and watching is often the best strategy.

JimC
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