What should I do if small nodules are found in the lungs during a physical examination

Small nodules in the lungs discovered during physical examination can be treated through regular follow-up examinations, anti-inflammatory treatment, puncture biopsy, surgical resection, and traditional Chinese medicine conditioning. Small nodules in the lungs may be caused by inflammation, tuberculosis infection, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary hamartoma, lung cancer, and other reasons.

1. Regular Follow up Review

If ground glass nodules or solid nodules with a diameter less than 8 millimeters are first discovered, it is recommended to have a chest CT scan review every 3-6 months. If there is no change in the nodules, it can be extended to annual review and continuous observation for 2-3 years. Re examination should be conducted at the same medical institution using the same scanning parameters to facilitate comparison of changes in nodule morphology, density, and size.

2. Anti inflammatory treatment

Some inflammatory nodules can be absorbed and dissipated after 2-4 weeks of standardized anti-inflammatory treatment. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics such as moxifloxacin hydrochloride tablets, azithromycin dispersible tablets, or prednisone acetate tablets to control non-specific inflammation. During the treatment period, body temperature and respiratory symptoms need to be monitored, and a CT scan should be conducted one month after completing the course of treatment to evaluate the efficacy.

3. High risk nodules that persist in biopsy

require CT guided lung biopsy to obtain tissue specimens. Suitable for solid nodules with a diameter greater than 10 millimeters, ground glass nodules with solid components exceeding 5 millimeters. Pathological examination can determine whether it is a tuberculous nodule, hamartoma, or malignant tumor, but it may cause complications such as pneumothorax.

4. Surgical resection

For nodules highly suspected of malignancy, thoracoscopic sub lobectomy is recommended, including segmentectomy or wedge resection. The indications for surgery are nodules with a diameter exceeding 15 millimeters, an increase of more than 2 millimeters during follow-up, and the appearance of lobulation or spiculation. postoperative pathological staging is required to guide subsequent treatment.

5. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

For patients with lung qi deficiency according to TCM syndrome differentiation, they can take modified Bu Fei Tang, and for those with phlegm and blood stasis, use Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang combined with Zhe Bei Mu. External treatment methods include acupoint application on the Feishu acupoint, moxibustion on the Danzhong acupoint with ginger, etc. The auxiliary diet can moisten the lung with lily Broth of white fungus soup, and avoid spicy and stimulating food.

If pulmonary nodules are found, smoking should be quit and secondhand smoke should be avoided to reduce kitchen fume inhalation. Maintain good ventilation in the living environment and wear N95 masks when going out on hazy days. Moderate aerobic exercise such as Ba Duan Jin can enhance lung function, but avoid vigorous exercise that can cause shortness of breath. Pay attention to observing whether there are warning symptoms such as coughing up blood and chest pain in daily life, and follow up and monitor changes in nodules on time.