Pulmonary nodule epidemiology and demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maria Fernanda Villarreal, M.D. [2]

Pulmonary nodules are common. The estimated prevalence of incidental pulmonary nodule ranges between 0.09% to 7% in the general population. The incidence rate of pulmonary nodule increases with age, tobacco use, and prior cancer; the median age at diagnosis is between 35 to 70 years. The prevalence of malignancy among pulmonary nodules ranges between 0.2% to 50%. Males are more commonly affected with pulmonary nodule than females. The male to female ratio is approximately 2 to 1. There is no racial predilection to pulmonary nodule.

• The incidence rate of pulmonary nodule increases with age, tobacco use, and prior cancer.^[1]

• The estimated prevalence of incidental pulmonary nodule ranges between 0.09% to 7% in the general population.^[1]
• The prevalence of malignancy among pulmonary nodules ranges between 0.2% to 50%.

• The median age at diagnosis is between 35 to 70 years.

• Males are more commonly affected with pulmonary nodule than females.
• .The male to female ratio is approximately 2 to 1.

• There is no racial predilection to pulmonary nodule.^[1]