Size

• According to Dr. Edward C. Rosenow III of the Mayo Clinic, most lung nodules are less than 1 inch, or 25 mm, in size. Anything larger could be malignant.
  
  

Considerations

• Chest X-rays, CT scans and biopsies are the best methods for determining whether a lung nodule is benign or malignant.
  
  

Warning

• Lung cancer is often fatal if not caught in the early stages. The surgical removal of a malignant lung nodule is possible and can improve prognosis.
  
  

Fun Fact

• The term nodule comes from a Latin word meaning "knot," according to WiseGeek.com, and lung nodules appear as white, circular shadows, or knots, on an X-ray.
  
  

Expert Insight

• The University of Rochester Medical Center states that cancerous lung nodules often grow very quickly and are more irregularly shaped than benign lung nodules.