Lungs are the main organs of the respiratory system. A pair of lungs are situated on either side of the thoracic cavity. Alveoli are present in the lungs which aid in gases exchange. Lungs are needed for inhalation which are must for the sustenance of life. In some cases, because of unhealthy practices lungs may get infected and are susceptible to several disorders. One of the diseases of the lung or lung disorders is lung nodules, that are often benign.
Lung nodules are also called pulmonary nodules. These are a mass of tissue or lesions situated in lungs. Some lung nodules may be non cancerous or benign in nature, while some are malignant or cancerous. If the lung nodules start developing at a rapid speed then its an indication of cancer.
Symptoms of Lung Nodules:
The presence of these nodules can be detected by noticing the following symptoms:
- Chest tightness
- Difficulty in breathing, often confused with flu or cold
- Experiencing short breaths
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
Nodules on lungs development are noticed very rarely and these are often mistaken to flu and cold. In many cases, nodules on lungs are detected by mere accident such as taking a scan or an X-ray.
Causes of Lung Nodules:
The pulmonary nodules are usually benign and are caused because of lung injury and scar tissue formation. Following are some of the causes of nodules of lungs:
- Lung cancer: Abnormal cells in the lungs may lead to the formation of nodules of lungs. These can be malignant or cancerous in nature which results in lung cancer.
- Cysts in the Lungs: If the tiny lesions in the lungs are filled with fluid or air, they develop into pulmonary nodules. These are due to pneumonia, pulmonary metastasis and other health conditions.
- Hematoma: This occurs due to lung injuries or irritation that result in internal bleeding and even cause swelling. Hematoma formation may result in the growth of benign nodules of the lungs.
- Fungal infections: These results in the formation of nodules on lungs. Pulmonary nodules which are caused due to fungal infections may be noticed in people working in asbestos or carpet making factories, gardening, farming and construction work.
- Tuberculosis: This is an infectious condition which occurs because of pathogens infestation known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This is very contagious which may spread to other body parts. Tuberculosis symptoms may include loss of appetite, persistent cough which produce blood, unexplained weight loss and fever.
- Other causes: Other causes include blood clot in lungs and histoplasmosis, also called vascular abnormalities and pulmonary embolism.
