Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat They AreCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What They Are
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Having multiple lung nodules means you have two or more lesions in your lungs. Multiple lung nodules are also called pulmonary nodules. These lesions can be seen on an imaging scan like an X-ray. You may not have any symptoms of multiple lung nodules.
If you’ve had achest X-rayand learned that you have multiple,lung nodules, you might worry it means you havecancer. If you only have one lung nodule (solitary pulmonary nodule), it probably is not cancer. However, if you have several or many lung nodules, the risk of cancer increases.
This article will go over what causes multiple lung nodules and how they can be diagnosed. You will also learn how multiple lung nodules are treated.
Possible Causes of a Lung Mass
What Are Multiple Lung Nodules?
Having multiple lung nodules simply means you have more than one nodule in your lungs. Although multiple lung nodules can be cancerous, they are more likely to be benign than malignant.
Non-cancerous lung nodules can form after there has been inflammation of some kind in the lung. These nodules start as a small clump of cells called a granuloma. Over time, the granuloma can harden or “calcify,” forming a lung nodule.
What Does a Shadow on the Lung Mean?
Benign Lung Nodules
There are more noncancerous (benign) causes of multiple lung nodules than cancerous (malignant) ones.
How to Tell If a Lung Tumor Is Benign
Cancerous Lung Nodules
Primary Cancer vs Secondary Cancer
Most lung nodules do not cause any symptoms. Although some people do experience coughing and wheezing or shortness of breath, many only find out they have lung nodules when they’re seen on a scan.
Multiple lung nodules look like spots or lesions on an X-ray. They usually measure 3 centimeters (roughly 1.2 inches) or less in diameter.Multiple lung nodules are a common finding, occurring in between 3.9 and 6.6 of every 1,000 chest X-rays in the United States.
Cancer is a concern whenever there are multiple lung nodules seen on a scan. Although lung nodules are more likely to have one of many different benign causes, cancer is still the single most common cause of multiple lung nodules.
The way that the nodules look on a scan can give providers hints about which type they are.
More Likely to Be CancerousMultiple nodules that are 8 millimeters (mm), roughly 1/4 inch, or more in diameterNodules described as “non-calcified” (with evenly distributed “ground-glass” appearance)More Likely to Be BenignNodules that are less than 5 mm (1/5 inch) are more likely to be benign, especially when distributed in the fissures between the lobes of the lung or along the tissue that lines the lungNodules described as “calcified” (seen on X-ray with random spots and flecks)
More Likely to Be CancerousMultiple nodules that are 8 millimeters (mm), roughly 1/4 inch, or more in diameterNodules described as “non-calcified” (with evenly distributed “ground-glass” appearance)
Multiple nodules that are 8 millimeters (mm), roughly 1/4 inch, or more in diameter
Nodules described as “non-calcified” (with evenly distributed “ground-glass” appearance)
More Likely to Be BenignNodules that are less than 5 mm (1/5 inch) are more likely to be benign, especially when distributed in the fissures between the lobes of the lung or along the tissue that lines the lungNodules described as “calcified” (seen on X-ray with random spots and flecks)
Nodules that are less than 5 mm (1/5 inch) are more likely to be benign, especially when distributed in the fissures between the lobes of the lung or along the tissue that lines the lung
Nodules described as “calcified” (seen on X-ray with random spots and flecks)
The way the lung nodules are arranged and spread out (distributed) can also be helpful in narrowing down possible causes. For example,coal workers’pneumoconiosismost often causes nodules that are predominant in the upper lobes.In lymphoma, the nodules are usually around the airways.
Other tests that might be used after finding multiple lung nodules include the following:
Radiologists usually prefer a combination of CT and PET scans for figuring out the cause of multiple lung nodules rather than doing each test individually.
If the cause of multiple lung nodules is still unclear when the imaging tests are done, a sample of tissue from your lung (lung biopsy) can be taken.
How Lung Cancer Is Diagnosed
The treatment for multiple lung nodules depends on the cause. Benign nodules can often be left alone. Nodules related to an infection can be treated with the appropriateantibiotic, antifungal, or antiparasitic drugs.
If metastatic cancer is diagnosed, treatment is based on where the tumor is. Cancer’s spread is also a factor when deciding on treatment. For example:
Treating Metastatic Cancer to the Lungs
Summary
Being told that you have multiple lung nodules can be frightening, especially if you don’t have any symptoms and are worried you could have cancer. Keep in mind that multiple lung nodules are not always cancer and may not even require treatment.
If your lung nodules are cancerous, there are usually treatments. They may not be curative, but they can reduce symptoms and help you live longer.
How Curable Is Lung Cancer?
Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout 40% of lung nodules turn out to be cancer.Researchers studying people with COVID-19 have seen cases where people with the infection have lung nodules. Some people just have nodule while others may have several.
About 40% of lung nodules turn out to be cancer.
Researchers studying people with COVID-19 have seen cases where people with the infection have lung nodules. Some people just have nodule while others may have several.
What to Know About Pneumonia and COVID-19
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Loverdos K, Fotiadis A, Kontogianni C, Iliopoulou M, Gaga M.Lung nodules: A comprehensive review on current approach and management.Ann Thorac Med. 2019;14(4):226-38. doi:10.4103/atm.ATM_110_19
Reed JC,Multiple modules and masses. In: Chest Radiology (Seventh Edition). 2019.
Sato, Y.; Fujimoto, D.; Morimoto, T.; et al. Natural History andClinical Characteristics of Multiple Pulmonary Nodules with Ground Glass Opacity.Respirology.2017; doi:10.1111/resp.13089
Haberal MA, Dikis OS, Akar E.Pulmonary hamartoma: Retrospective analysis of 24 cases.Dicle Medi J. 2019;46(1). doi:10.5798/dicletip.534820
Lau CY, Mihalek AD, Wang J, et al.Pulmonary manifestations of the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. A retrospective study of a unique patient cohort.Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2016;13(8):1279-88. doi:10.1513/AnnalsATS.201601-079OC
Khan T, Usman Y, Abdo T, Chaudry F, Keddissi JI, Youness HA.Diagnosis and management of peripheral lung nodule.Ann Transl Med. 2019;7(15):348. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.03.59
Murphy A, Gaillar F.Coal workers' pneumoconiosis. In: Radiopedia. 2018. doi:10.53347/rID-1137
Blackley DJ, Halldin CN, Laney AS, et al.Continued increase in prevalence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in the United States, 1970–2017.Am J Public Health.2018;108(9):1220-22. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304517
Andrani F, Scipione R, Porfiri A, Anzidei M.Pulmonary nodules: Detection and risk evaluation. In: Anzidei M, Anile M, eds.Diagnostic Imaging for Thoracic Surgery: A Manual for Surgeons and Radiologists. Springer, Cham; 2018:127-45.
Zhou Z, Zhan P, Jin J, et al.The imaging of small pulmonary nodules.Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2017;6(1):62-7. doi:10.21037/tlcr.2017.02.02
Mets, O., Chung, K., Scholten, E. et al.Incidental perifissural nodules on routine chest computed tomography: Lung cancer or not?.Eur Radiol.2018;28(3):1095-101. doi:10.1007/s00330-017-5055-x
Sanguedolce F, Zanelli M, Zizzo M, et al.Primary pulmonary B-cell lymphoma: A review and update.Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(3):415. doi:10.3390/cancers13030415
Groheux D, Quere G, Blanc E, et al.FDG PET-CT for solitary pulmonary nodule and lung cancer: Literature review.Diagn Interv Imaging. 2016;97(10):1003-1017. doi:10.1016/j.diii.2016.06.020
Holch J, Stintzing S, Heinemann V.Treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: Standard of care and future perspectives.Visc Med. 2016;32(3):178-83. doi:10.1159/000446052
Wujanto C, Vellayappan B, Siva S, et al.Stereotactic body radiotherapy for oligometastatic disease in non-small cell lung cancer.Front Oncol.2019;9:1219. doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.01219
University of Rochester Medical Center.Pulmonary nodules.
Bordas-Martinez J, del Río B, Molina-Molina M. [Translated article]Multiple solid nodules at post-COVID-19 follow-up after mild pneumonia.Archivos de Bronconeumología. 2021;58(4). doi:10.1016/j.arbres.2021.06.020
Arslan, Ünal.One of the many faces of COVID-19 infection: an irregularly shaped pulmonary nodule.Insights into Imaging. 2021;12(1):1-2. doi:10.1186/s13244-021-00987-7
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
