Nodules in Lungs: Causes and Treatment

Name: Advanced Cancer Treatment Centers (ACTC)
Address: 15211 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL, 34613, US
Telephone: 352-345-4565

December 16, 2025

Hearing that your CT scan shows a spot on your lung can be unsettling. Many nodules are not cancer, but knowing exactly what you're dealing with and the next steps to take is essential.

In many screening and imaging programs, roughly one in four CT scans may reveal a nodule, but only a small fraction of these turn out to be cancer. Understanding the basics today can help ease your anxiety, clarify next steps, and ensure timely care close to home.

What Do Nodules in the Lungs Mean?

A lung nodule is simply a small, round spot visible on a CT scan. Most nodules are harmless—often caused by old infections or scarring—but some may require more careful monitoring or further tests like a biopsy.

It’s easy to jump to conclusions, but not every nodule means cancer, and not every nodule requires surgery.

Knowing what type of nodule you have guides decisions about daily activities, travel plans, and even work commitments, giving you greater peace of mind.

Here are the basics of the different types of nodules:

Type

What it Means

Typical Next Step

Solid

Dense, clearly defined spot

Follow-up based on size or biopsy

Subsolid (ground-glass)

Hazy area on imaging

Repeat CT scan to watch for changes

Part-solid

Mixed solid and hazy appearance

Closer monitoring; possible PET scan or CT surveillance

Calcified benign pattern

Usually an old healed infection

Generally reassurance; routine care

Not containing calcium, ≥8 mm

Higher chance of cancer

PET-CT scan and tissue diagnosis

Multiple nodules

May be benign or malignant

Assess risk; structured follow-up

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Most lung nodules cause no noticeable symptoms and are discovered incidentally. However, call your doctor immediately if you experience:

Coughing up blood
New chest pain
Unexplained weight loss
Worsening shortness of breath

These symptoms don’t automatically mean cancer, but they do need prompt evaluation. Urgent care is necessary if you suddenly have severe breathing trouble.

Special Considerations by Age and Risk Factors

Most lung nodules occur in adults, with risks increasing over age 60 and with a history of smoking. Patients who have COPD, prior cancers, or weakened immune systems also require special attention.

Pediatric nodules are rare; if found, we quickly coordinate care with appropriate pediatric specialists.

We tailor our approach to your health history, ensuring all risk factors are thoughtfully considered.

Tests and Safe Timelines for Nodules in Lungs

The size and type of your nodule, along with your health history, determine the next step.

Small nodules (under 6 mm) often do not require routine CT scans if you’re low risk; in higher-risk cases, a single follow-up CT at about 12 months may be considered.
Nodules around 6–8 mm generally need a follow-up within 6 to 12 months and, depending on risk and imaging features, another CT at 18 to 24 months to check for growth.
If your nodule is about 8 mm or larger, doctors might use a specialized scan called a PET-CT to see how active it is or consider performing a biopsy.

PET scans aren't helpful for very small nodules (below 8 mm), because these nodules typically have too little metabolic activity to appear clearly on PET scans.

Your doctor might also use specialized risk calculators (like Brock or Mayo models) to estimate how likely a nodule is to be cancer, guiding you through the safest, least invasive approach.

If further tests do confirm cancer, rest assured: effective, local-focused treatment options are available.

Treatment Options at ACTC

Care works best when support is organized around you, making your journey simpler and more comfortable. At ACTC, treatment is always delivered by top-center-trained oncologists who coordinate your care close to home, limiting unnecessary travel.

If your nodule turns out to be cancer, our team customizes treatment based on the size, location, and characteristics of the tumor, as well as your personal health and preferences.

Surgery may involve a wedge resection (removing just the nodule and a small amount of surrounding tissue) or a segmentectomy (removing a small lung segment) to preserve as much lung function as possible.
If surgery isn’t possible, we use advanced radiation therapy called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which precisely targets early-stage cancers.
For cancers that need medication, targeted therapies or immunotherapies are available. These are guided by biomarker tests to select the most effective medicine.

Support and Navigation

Facing uncertainty about a lung nodule can be challenging, but you won’t face it alone. Our nurse navigators coordinate every step, ensuring you and your caregivers are supported with clear information, survivorship planning, and helpful resources.

Practical tips make appointments smoother: bring your reports and imaging discs; referrals are accepted if you come from another provider; and virtual follow-ups are available to minimize extra trips.

Financial navigators will clarify insurance approvals and answer timing questions. Our in-house imaging and infusion services also help reduce extra visits, reflecting our attentive, steady support designed around your comfort and convenience.

Our clinics near Brooksville offer easy access, eliminating unnecessary travel and keeping world-class care local. Call 352-345-4565 or book an appointment.