Calcified pulmonary nodules

Last revised by Adrià Roset Altadill on 22 Jan 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Jones J, Altadill A, Macori F, et al. Calcified pulmonary nodules. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 30 Sep 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-14510

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-14510

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/14510

rID:

14510

Article created:

2 Aug 2011, Jeremy Jones ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.

View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures

Last revised:

22 Jan 2022, Adrià Roset Altadill

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Adrià Roset Altadill had no recorded disclosures.

View Adrià Roset Altadill's current disclosures

Revisions:

41 times, by 14 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Chest

Sections:

Gamuts

Synonyms:

Calcified pulmonary nodule
Calcified lung nodule
Calcified lung nodules
Calcific pulmonary nodules

Calcified pulmonary nodules are a subset of hyperdense pulmonary nodules and a group of nodules with a relatively narrow differential.

Pathology

Etiology

The most common cause of nodule calcification is granuloma formation, usually in the response to healed infection.

healed infection
- calcified granulomata, e.g. thoracic histoplasmosis, recovered miliary tuberculosis (rare)
  - most common
  - 2-5 mm
  - calcification may be central or diffuse
  - usually with calcification of hilar/mediastinal nodes
- healed varicella pneumonia
  - micronodular (1-3 mm)
  - no associated nodal calcification
occupational disease/pneumoconioses
- silicosis
  - associated with nodal egg-shell calcification
  - multiple small densely calcified nodules in mid and upper zones
- coalworker's pneumoconiosis
  - smaller nodules which may not be visible on plain film
  - associated with minimal symptoms
calcified pulmonary metastases
- osteosarcoma
- chondrosarcoma
- medullary and papillary thyroid carcinomas ⁶
- mucinous carcinomas (colon, ovarian, breast)
pulmonary hamartomas
metastatic pulmonary calcification
- typically nodules are poorly defined and larger (3-10 mm)
- calcium and phosphate metabolism abnormalities
  - chronic renal failure
  - multiple myeloma
  - secondary hyperparathyroidism
  - massive osteolysis caused by metastases
  - intravenous calcium therapy
pulmonary hemosiderosis
- idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis
  - recurrent alveolar hemorrhage
  - centrilobular nodular opacities
- mitral stenosis
  - small multifocal calcified nodules
- Goodpasture syndrome
pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis
- tiny micronodules
- apparent calcification of interlobular septa
- small subpleural cysts
sarcoidosis (rare)
calcifying fibrous pseudotumor of lung
pulmonary amyloidosis
pulmonary hyalinising granuloma
bronchogenic carcinoma
carcinoid tumor