Differential Diagnosis for Round Spots in Lung without Symptoms
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Granuloma: A granuloma is a small area of inflammation in the lung, often caused by a previous infection, such as histoplasmosis. It is usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally on a chest X-ray or CT scan. The round spots in the lung are consistent with granulomas, which are typically small, rounded, and well-defined.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Pulmonary nodules: These are small, rounded growths on the lung, which can be benign or malignant. They are often discovered incidentally and may not cause symptoms until they grow larger.
- Hamartomas: These are benign lung tumors composed of abnormal mixtures of cells and tissues. They are usually small, round, and well-defined, and may be discovered incidentally on a chest X-ray or CT scan.
- Pulmonary metastases: In some cases, round spots in the lung can be metastases from a cancer elsewhere in the body. However, this would typically be associated with symptoms of the primary cancer.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed)
- Lung cancer: Although lung cancer is often associated with symptoms such as coughing, weight loss, and shortness of breath, some cases may be asymptomatic, especially in the early stages. It is essential to investigate round spots in the lung to rule out lung cancer.
- Tuberculosis: TB can cause round spots in the lung, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Although TB often causes symptoms such as coughing, fever, and weight loss, some cases may be asymptomatic.
- Rare diagnoses
- Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs): These are rare abnormal connections between arteries and veins in the lung, which can cause round spots on imaging studies.
- Pulmonary sequestration: This is a rare condition where a portion of lung tissue receives its blood supply from an anomalous systemic artery, rather than the pulmonary artery. It can cause round spots in the lung, often with associated symptoms such as coughing or chest pain.