Pulmonary nodule tracking using chest computed tomography in a histoplasmosis endemic area.

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.

CONCLUSION

Malignancy was lower than expected in nodules >20mm. Appropriate tracking guidelines for incidentally discovered nodules in histoplasmosis endemic regions must be determined.