title: Pulmonary nodule tracking using chest computed tomography in a histoplasmosis endemic area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In areas with endemic histoplasmosis, incidental pulmonary nodules are common. Rate of malignancy and applicability of current tracking guidelines in these regions remain unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 148 cases of incidental pulmonary nodules tracked with chest computed tomography were reviewed for radiologic characteristics, diagnosis, number, and size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the nodules, 87.8% were benign and 12.2% malignant; 30% of nodules >20mm were malignant. Number of nodules (P=.14) and granulomatous disease (P=.71) were not related to malignant diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malignancy was lower than expected in nodules >20mm. Appropriate tracking guidelines for incidentally discovered nodules in histoplasmosis endemic regions must be determined.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Residency, Boonshoft School of Medicine at WSU; Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Electronic address: Whittney.Warren@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Whittney A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Residency, Boonshoft School of Medicine at WSU.
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Markert
authors.affiliation: Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
authors.forename: Elizabeth D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D055613:Multiple Pulmonary Nodules / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Chest computed tomography; Histoplasmosis; Incidental pulmonary nodule; Nodule tracking