- 1. Lung infection
- 2. Benign tumor
- 3. Malformation of blood vessels
- 4. Lung cancer
- What to do after discovering a spot on the lung
The spot on the lung is usually a term used by the doctor to describe the presence of a white spot on the lung X-ray, so the spot can have several causes.
Although lung cancer is always a possibility, it is quite rare and usually the spot is just a sign of infection or inflammation of the lung tissue. And even when it is caused by the growth of something inside the lung, it is usually a benign tumor, not related to cancer.
Often, the spot on the X-ray can also be referred to as a lump in the lung, but in such cases, the doctor may already be suspicious of tissue growth, which may be benign or malignant. To confirm benignity or malignancy, a biopsy may be necessary, the sample of which is taken for analysis in the laboratory. Understand more about the lump in the lung.
1. Lung infection
Infections are the main cause of spots on the lung, even though there is no longer an active infection. Thus, the white spot may appear on the X-ray after the person has had pneumonia or tuberculosis, for example, representing a location in the lung where the tissues are still inflamed.
However, if there is no history of infection, the doctor must assess the presence of symptoms and perform a phlegm exam to confirm whether bacteria are developing in the lung. Find out how tuberculosis is identified.
2. Benign tumor
The benign tumor consists of the growth of tissue inside the lung, which normally does not cause any symptoms and, therefore, is only discovered during routine examinations. One of the most common types is fibroma, in which tissue very rich in fibers develops in the respiratory visas.
When the growth of these types of tumors is greatly exaggerated, it can cause changes in breathing, but it usually does not cause any symptoms and, therefore, treatment may not be necessary.
It is important that the doctor analyzes the background, signs and symptoms presented by the person and if there was exposure to chemical substances, it may be necessary to perform imaging tests and, in some cases, biopsy to assess the benignity of the tumor.
3. Malformation of blood vessels
Another possible cause of a small spot on the lung is the presence of a cluster of blood vessels in some region of the lung, known as a hemangioma. Generally, these vessels develop from birth, but since they do not usually cause any symptoms, they are only identified during routine examinations. See more about what hemangioma is and how it is treated.
The hemangioma is usually kept under surveillance only, to assess whether it is increasing in size. If the size does not change, the doctor usually does not indicate any type of treatment, however, if it is growing and pressing the airways, it may be necessary to have surgery to remove excess vessels, for example.
4. Lung cancer
Although it is more rare, lung cancer can also be one of the causes of spotting on the lung. Usually, in these cases, there may already be other signs such as persistent cough, shortness of breath, blood in the phlegm or pain in the chest, for example.
The spots can also be the result of cancer that originated in other organs and has spread to the lungs, this being called metastasis.
Lung cancer is more common in people who smoke, so if this is the case, the doctor may order other tests such as a CT scan to try to confirm or misdiagnose the cancer diagnosis.
See what other signs can help to identify lung cancer.
What to do after discovering a spot on the lung
After identifying a lung spot on the X-ray, the doctor makes an assessment of the person's history to try to determine the risk that it could be a more serious problem, such as cancer. In addition, other tests such as computed tomography or even a biopsy can be done to try to better assess the type of tissue that is causing the stain, in addition to blood tests to assess tumor markers, allowing you to decide what is the best form of treatment.
With computed tomography, the doctor should be able to assess in greater detail the size and shape of the stain, which may already better indicate the risk of being cancer. Generally, very large and very irregularly shaped patches are more likely to be cancer, but only a biopsy can confirm the diagnosis.
