Pulmonary nodules in children.

Abstract

Clinicians and radiologist nowadays frequently encounter pulmonary nodules in children, thanks to the widespread use of computed tomography (CT) thorax. Most pulmonary nodules are benign; however, a small number of pulmonary nodules indicate pulmonary malignancy in children, requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. Incidentally diagnosed pulmonary nodules are common and naturally cause anxiety in families and in clinicians, leading to successive examinations. For this reason, the creation of algorithms for the diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary nodules, and the definition of advanced imaging requirements will facilitate the management of these patients; early diagnosis and treatment will be provided in patients with malignant tumors, and unnecessary interventions will be minimized in patients with benign nodules. This review is designed to explore current information on nodule definition, diagnostic evaluation, and management in the pediatric age group based on previously obtained data.