When Pope Leo XIV said he will undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule, many people asked what that actually means. Here is what doctors and medical groups say.
According to the American Cancer Society, a lung nodule is a small abnormal area, 3 centimeters or less, found on a chest or abdominal CT scan. Scans are often done for other reasons, such as trauma, heart disease or a lung infection. The Mayo Clinic says most nodules are not cancerous and can be scar tissue from past lung infections.
Finding a nodule on a scan does not confirm a cancer diagnosis, an NBC News medical contributor said, and examining the nodule after surgery will reveal more. The American Thoracic Society says fewer than 5% of lung nodules overall prove cancerous, though risk rises with age, size and factors such as smoking.
A specialist told the AP that benign and cancerous nodules can look similar on imaging. A lung cancer specialist added that if it were cancer, early removal would give an excellent outlook.
The Vatican did not say whether the nodule is believed to be malignant. It also did not say what type of surgery he will have. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the operation is scheduled for the first days of this week, with about one week of recovery expected. The 71-year-old pope has no previously known health problems and is physically active.
Pope Leo asked the faithful to pray for him as he prepares for surgery, and believers around the world are doing so. This article is not medical advice. Anyone with questions about a scan or a lung finding should speak with their own doctor.
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