Keuhkoväyrän

Keuhkoväyrän is a Finnish term that translates to "lung nodule" or "pulmonary nodule" in English. It refers to a small, roundish growth or abnormality detected in the lung tissue, typically appearing as a distinct spot on medical imaging such as a chest X-ray or CT scan. These nodules are generally defined as being less than 3 centimeters in diameter. Larger lesions are typically referred to as lung masses.

The discovery of a keuhkoväyrä can be incidental, meaning it is found when a scan is performed for another reason, or it can be detected as part of a screening program for lung cancer. The causes of keuhkoväyrä are varied. Many are benign, meaning they are not cancerous. These can include old scars from infections like tuberculosis, granulomas (inflammatory nodules caused by fungal or bacterial infections), or hamartomas (benign tumors composed of disorganized tissue elements normally found in that location).

However, some keuhkoväyrät can be malignant, indicating the presence of lung cancer, either as a primary tumor or a metastasis from cancer elsewhere in the body. Due to the potential for malignancy, any detected keuhkoväyrä typically requires further investigation to determine its nature. This may involve comparing it to previous scans to see if it has changed, or undergoing a biopsy where a small sample of the nodule is removed for microscopic examination. The size, shape, density, and growth rate of a keuhkoväyrä are important factors in assessing the likelihood of it being cancerous.