title: A practical algorithmic approach to the diagnosis and management of solitary pulmonary nodules: part 1: radiologic characteristics and imaging modalities.
abstract: The solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is frequently encountered on chest imaging and poses an important diagnostic challenge to clinicians. The differential diagnosis is broad, ranging from benign granulomata and infectious processes to malignancy. Important concepts in the evaluation of SPNs include the definition, morphologic characteristics via appropriate imaging modalities, and the calculation of pretest probability of malignancy. Morphologic differentiation of SPN into solid or subsolid types is important in the choice of follow-up and further management. In this first part of a two-part series, we describe the morphologic characteristics and various imaging modalities available to further characterize SPN. In Part 2, we will describe the determination of pretest probability of malignancy and an algorithmic approach to the diagnosis of SPN.
authors: New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY.
authors: Vishal K
authors: VK
authors: Patel
authors: New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY.
authors: Sagar K
authors: SK
authors: Naik
authors: New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.
authors: David P
authors: DP
authors: Naidich
authors: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors: William D
authors: WD
authors: Travis
authors: New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY.
authors: Jeremy A
authors: JA
authors: Weingarten
authors: New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Lazzaro
authors: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
authors: David D
authors: DD
authors: Gutterman
authors: New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Wentowski
authors: New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY.
authors: Horiana B
authors: HB
authors: Grosu
authors: New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY. Electronic address: suhailraoof@gmail.com.
authors: Suhail
authors: S
authors: Raoof
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000465:Algorithms; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18