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Abstract
Solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) are defined as approximately round lesions less than 30 mm in diameter and completely surrounded by lung parenchyma.
Such nodules are noted in 0.09-0.20% of all chest radiographs.
Causes are many and varied, including both benign and malignant conditions.
The probability of the latter is influenced by an individual’s risk factors such as nodule size and characteristics, patient age and smoking status.
The incidence of malignancy in such nodules ranges from 10 to 70%, and their management remains a matter of debate(Davies et al., 2005).
The challenge remains to resect malignant SPNs appropriately, whilst avoiding thoracotomy and its attendant morbidity in benign disease.
A range of imaging modalities can be employed for their further investigation (Davies et al., 2005).
Chest radiographs (CXR) are the primary initial imaging modality for SPNs.
A chest radiograph (CXR) gives information regarding size, margin characteristics, calcification and growth rate ( Ost and Fein,2000).
Helical computed tomography (CT) of the chest is the imaging modality with the highest sensitivity for the detection of pulmonary nodules (Awai et al., 2004). Helical CT, as compared with conventional transverse CT, has been shown to increase sensitivity for the detection of small pulmonary nodules (Benjamin et al., 2003).
Today, high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning allows further characterization, it is helpful in managing cases with solitary pulmonary nodules for predicting malignant and benign lung lesions (Takashima et al., 2003)