The Management and Evaluation of the Solitary Pulmonary Nodule

¹ Department of Pulmonary Disease, USAF Medical Center, Scott AFB, Illinois
² Department of Pulmonary Disease, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago

An analysis of the case records and radiographic findings in 137 patients presenting with solitary pulmonary nodules was made in order to develop a rational therapeutic approach to this problem. None of the nodules was bronchogenic carcinoma in those patients under 35 years of age. A review of the literature indicated other investigators to have had a similar experience, finding less than 1 percent of the solitary nodules in this age group malignant. Considering the small but definite risk of thoracotomy, surgical removal would not appear justified in this age group of patients. Operation is also not necessary if one can show by previous chest films that the nodule has not enlarged over the preceding two years. Finally, most calcified nodules need not be removed.