MANAGING SOLITARY PULMONARY NODULES

A solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) on a chest radiograph represents a m ajor diagnostic dilemma. The goals of management are to resect maligna nt tumors without delay and to avoid unnecessary thoracotomy if the no dule is benign. But because of the difficulty distinguishing benign fr om malignant nodules, even with advances in imaging techniques, these goals cannot be met in all cases.