| Nodule | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Specialty | Pathology |
Inmedicine, nodules are small firm lumps, usually greater than 1 cm in diameter.[1][2] If filled with fluid they are referred to as cysts.[2] Smaller (less than 0.5 cm) raised soft tissue bumps may be termed papules.[3]
The evaluation of a skin nodule includes a description of its appearance, its location, how it feels to touch and any associated symptoms which may give clues to an underlying medical condition.[4]
Nodules in skin include dermatofibroma[5] and pyogenic granuloma.[6] Nodules may form on tendons and muscles in response to injury,[7] and are frequently found on vocal cords.[8] They may occur in organs such as the lung,[9]orthyroid,[10] or be a sign in other medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.[11]
Nodules are small firm lumps usually greater than 1 cm in diameter, found in skin and other organs.[1][2] If filled with fluid they are usually softer and referred to as cysts.[2] Smaller (less than 0.5 cm) raised soft tissue bumps may be termed papules.[3]
The evaluation of a skin nodule includes a description of its appearance, its location, how it feels to touch and any associated symptoms which may give clues to an underlying medical condition.[4]
Often discovered unintentionally on a chest x-ray, a single nodule in the lung requires assessment to exclude cancer.[9]
Nodules may form on tendons and muscles in response to injury,[7] and are frequently found on vocal cords,[8] They occur in conditions including endometriosis,[12] neurofibromatosis,[6] and in rheumatoid arthritis.[11] They may also feature in Kaposi's sarcoma[13] and gonorrhea.[14]
![Dermatofibroma[5]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dermatofibroma_new_image_to_help_in_diagnosis.jpg)
![CT (L) and ultrasound (R) of thyroid colloid nodule with calcification[15][10]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CT_of_thyroid_colloid_nodule_with_calcification.jpg)
![Lung nodule[16]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thorax_pa_peripheres_Bronchialcarcinom_li_OF_markiert.jpg)
![Merkel cell carcinoma[6]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carcinome_%C3%A0_cellules_de_Merkel.jpg)
![Pyogenic granuloma[6]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pyogenic_Granuloma_Thumb_1.JPG)
![Lipoma[6]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Superficial_subcutaneous_lipoma.jpg)
painful palpable nodules
|
| |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions |
| ||||||||||
| Staging/grading |
| ||||||||||
| Carcinogenesis |
| ||||||||||
| Misc. |
| ||||||||||
