Lung Nodules - Treatment by Respected Baltimore Interventional Pulmonologist

Patients throughout Maryland turn to Mercy’s highly-experienced pulmonology team and respected interventional pulmonologist Dr. Sy Sarkar for diagnosis and management of lung nodules.

About Pulmonary Nodules

A pulmonary nodule, also known as a lung nodule, is a small spot or growth that is found on the lung and is less than three centimeters in diameter. (Anything larger is considered a lung mass.) A lung nodule can be solitary, meaning just one, or there can be multiple. At Mercy, your lung specialist will customize your care and management within our dedicated pulmonary nodule clinic.

Lung nodules are very common and most are benign, or noncancerous. They can form due to a variety of circumstances including infection, illness or scarring.

Causes can include both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Examples of some non-modifiable risk factors include family history or genetics. Risk factors that can be changed (modifiable) include habits such as smoking. The best way to modify your risk of lung cancer is to stop smoking.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Most patients with a lung nodule(s) will experience no symptoms. However, those with symptoms may notice:

Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Coughing for a long time
Coughing up blood
Unexpected weight loss
Fever
Chest pain

Some common diagnostic tests and procedures to diagnose lung nodule(s) include:

Treatment Options for Pulmonary Nodules

Small, noncancerous lung nodules do not typically require treatment. If the nodules are infected, antibiotics or antifungal medications may be prescribed.

If the nodule increases in size, causes further issues, or is cancerous, surgical procedures to remove the pulmonary nodules may be recommended.

Other treatment options can include:

The Lung Center at Mercy offers highly-skilled physician expertise for the treatment of a broad spectrum of pulmonary disorders, including COPD, lung cancer, hemoptysis, pleural effusions and sleep disorders.