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Aunt Li has been restless lately. During a check-up last week, the doctor told her that a small nodule had been found in her lung. This news was like a boulder, and it instantly weighed on her heart.
She tossed and turned, couldn't sleep at night, and the two dazzling words "lung cancer" kept coming to her mind. Until today, she finally mustered up the courage to go to the hospital for a follow-up.
Walking into the consultation room, Aunt Li was so nervous that her palms were sweating. The attending doctor, Wang Hua, carefully examined her CT images and showed a hint of a smile. "Aunt Li, you don't have to worry too much. Based on these imaging features, we can basically rule out the possibility of lung cancer. "
Aunt Li's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really? Doctor, can you elaborate on that? "
Dr. Wang nodded and began to explain patiently. "The nodules in your lungs exhibit typically benign features. It has very smooth and regular edges and a shape that is close to round or oval. This feature is often associated with benign nodules, such as granulomas or hamartomas. "
Aunt Li listened carefully and nodded from time to time. Dr. Wang continued, "In addition, the size of your nodule is stable and has not increased significantly. We compared your images from six months ago and found that there was almost no change in nodule size.
This is a good sign that the nodule is growing slowly or stagnantly, consistent with the characteristics of a benign nodule. "
Dr. Wang pointed to a bright spot on the CT image. "See this? There are calcifications on the inside of the nodules. Calcifications are common in benign nodules, particularly in granulomas. This further supports a virtuous judgment. "
Aunt Li breathed a long sigh of relief, and her tense nerves finally relaxed. Seeing this, Dr. Wang said gently, "I understand your previous concerns. Many people associate the worst-case scenario with lung nodules when they hear about them. In fact, most lung nodules are benign. "
At that moment, the door to the exam room was gently pushed open. A middle-aged man walked in, it was Mr. Zhang, Aunt Li's neighbor. He is a courier and is also here today to have his lung nodules checked for a check-up.
When Mr. Zhang heard Dr. Wang's words, he couldn't help but interject, "Dr. Wang, you also said that my nodules may be benign during my last examination. Can you elaborate on that? "
Dr. Wong readily agreed. "Mr. Zhang, your situation is also optimistic. In addition to these features I just mentioned, your nodule has another important feature: its location is on the periphery of the lungs.
Benign nodules are more common in the peripheral parts of the lungs, while malignant nodules are more likely to occur in the central area of the lungs. "
Mr. Zhang nodded thoughtfully. Dr. Wang continued, "It's also worth noting that your nodules are uniform in density and don't have irregular solid components. This uniform density is also an important feature of benign nodules. "
Aunt Li and Mr. Zhang listened attentively, as if they had opened the door to a new world. Seeing this, Dr. Wang smiled and added, "There are some other factors that can also help us determine the nature of the nodule.
For example, if there is a burr sign or vascular bundle sign around the nodule, it is a cause for concern. However, neither of you has these features in your nodules, which is good news. "
Mr. Zhang suddenly remembered something and asked, "Dr. Wang, I heard that age is also a factor, is that true?" "
Dr. Wang nodded in affirmation: "Yes, age is indeed an important consideration. In general, lung nodules in young people are more likely to be benign.
As we age, the risk of malignant nodules increases. However, this is only a statistical trend and cannot be used as a separate judgment. "
After listening to this, Aunt Li and Mr. Zhang both breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing this, Dr. Wang said gently, "Although your nodules look benign, we still need regular check-ups. This makes it possible to detect any changes in a timely manner and ensure that nothing goes wrong. "
The two nodded again and again, and the gloom on their faces was swept away. Aunt Li said gratefully, "Thank you, Dr. Wang. Your explanation has put us all at ease. "
Mr. Zhang also chimed in: "Yes, it turns out that lung nodules are not all terrible. In the future, we should pay more attention to our health and have regular physical examinations. "