Lung lesions can be caused by various factors and are often discovered incidentally during medical imaging. A biopsy is usually necessary to determine the cause of the lesion, which could range from inflammation to cancerous growth. Treatment options depend on the type of lesion and can include medication, chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Risk factors for developing lung lesions include chronic lung disease, exposure to pollutants, and smoking.
A lung lesion is an area of abnormal cellular change in or on the lung. Lung injuries can be caused by a number of things, and the discovery of an injury is only an indicator for further evaluation, not a cause for immediate alarm. After a lung lesion has been investigated to learn more about what it is, a doctor can discuss the findings with the patient and develop a treatment plan for the lesion, if needed.
Lesions on the lungs are sometimes identified during medical imaging studies of the lungs, such as X-rays. They can also be found during surgery in the chest area or in endoscopic procedures in which a camera is inserted into the body to provide a view of structures normally visible only during surgery. They could be incidental findings discovered while evaluating a patient for another problem, or a doctor might be looking for them specifically based on the symptoms the patient is experiencing.
A lesion can indicate an area of inflammation, the development of a cancerous growth, a benign polyp, or any number of other cellular changes. To find out more about a lung lesion, it is usually necessary to take a small sample for a biopsy. If possible, a doctor may try to remove the entire lesion if it is malignant. If it is, the patient will not need a second procedure to remove the rest of the growth, as it will have already been removed.
A pathologist can examine the sample under a microscope and provide more information about it. Pathology results may vary. Sometimes the sample is not large enough and the results are inconclusive. In most cases, the pathologist can determine the types of cells involved, study their activity in the lung, and determine if the growth is cause for concern. Pathology reports for a lesion can take from several days to a week, depending on the activity level of a lab.
People are at increased risk of developing lung lesions if they have chronic lung disease, are exposed to environmental pollutants, or are smokers. As injuries are identified and need medical attention, your options may vary. Medications can be used to manage problems like inflammation, while other types of lesions can be malignant and require chemotherapy, radiation, or possible surgery. When discussing injuries and treatment options, patients may want to ask about their prognosis with different treatment options versus a prognosis without treatment.
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