Pulmonary nodule classification

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

Overview

Pulmonary nodule may be classified according to size (> 8 mm vs. ≤ 8 mm), attenuation (pure solid vs. part-solid), and distribution (solitary vs. multiple). It can also be classified into benign and malignant based on the radiological findings.

Classification

Pulmonary nodule may be classified according to size, attenuation, and distribution into the following:^[1]

The table below summarizes the radiological features suggestive of benign or malignant pulmonary nodules.^[2]


Radiologic feature	Benign	Malignant
Radiologic Features Suggestive of Benign or Malignant Pulmonary Nodules Adapted from American Academy of Family Physicians ^[3]
Size	< 5 mm	> 10 mm
Border	Smooth	Irregular or spiculated
Density	Dense, solid	Nonsolid, “ground glass”
Calcification	Typically a benign feature, especially in “concentric,” “central,” “popcorn-like,” or “homogeneous” patterns	Typically noncalcified, or “eccentric” calcification
Doubling time	Less than one month; more than one year	One month to one year

References

↑ Ost D, Fein AM, Feinsilver SH (2003). “Clinical practice. The solitary pulmonary nodule”. N. Engl. J. Med. 348 (25): 2535–42. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp012290. PMID 12815140. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Albert RH, Russell JJ (2009). “Evaluation of the solitary pulmonary nodule”. Am Fam Physician. 80 (8): 827–31. PMID 19835344.
↑ Solitary Pulmonary Nodule: Morphological Evaluation. http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/pdf/10.1148/radiographics.20.1.g00ja0343 Accessed on March 15, 2016

Overview