Pulmonary mass

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maria Fernanda Villarreal, M.D. [2]

Overview

Pulmonary mass (also known as lung mass) is generally defined as any area of pulmonary opacification that measures more than 30 mm in the lung. Pulmonary mass can be benign or malignant. On the other hand, pulmonary nodule is defined as a relatively well defined round or oval pulmonary parenchymal lesion equal or smaller than 30 mm in diameter. Pulmonary nodule can be classified into 2 categories: solitary or multiple.

Classification

For more details about each specific type of condition, click on the links in blue in the algorithm below.
In order to distinguish pulmonary mass from solitary pulmonary nodule, click here.

Pulmonary nodule or mass

More than > 30 mm

Less than <30 mm

Pulmonary nodule

Lung mass (also known as Pulmonary mass) (Primary lung cancer 95% of the cases)

Multiple

Single (or solitary)