Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of abbreviations
- Part I Fundamentals of CXR interpretation – ‘the basics’
- Part II A–Z Chest Radiology
- Abscess
- Achalasia
- Alveolar microlithiasis
- Aneurysm of the pulmonary artery
- Aortic arch aneurysm
- Aortic rupture
- Asbestos plaques
- Asthma
- Bochdalek hernia
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchocele
- Calcified granulomata
- Carcinoma
- Cardiac aneurysm
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Collapsed lung
- Consolidated lung
- Diaphragmatic hernia – acquired
- Diaphragmatic hernia – congenital
- Embolic disease
- Emphysematous bulla
- Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
- Flail chest
- Foregut duplication cyst
- Foreign body – inhaled
- Foreign body – swallowed
- Goitre
- Haemothorax
- Heart failure
- Hiatus hernia
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Incorrectly sited central venous line
- Kartagener syndrome
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
- Lymphoma
- Macleod's syndrome
- Mastectomy
- Mesothelioma
- Metastases
- Neuroenteric cyst
- Neurofibromatosis
- Pancoast tumour
- Pectus excavatum
- Pericardial cyst
- Pleural effusion
- Pleural mass
- Pneumoconiosis
- Pneumoperitoneum
- Pneumothorax
- Poland's syndrome
- Post lobectomy/post pneumonectomy
- Progressive massive fibrosis
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation
- Sarcoidosis
- Silicosis
- Subphrenic abscess
- Thoracoplasty
- Thymus – malignant thymoma
- Thymus – normal
- Tuberculosis
- Varicella pneumonia
- Wegener's granulomatosis
Calcified granulomata
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of abbreviations
- Part I Fundamentals of CXR interpretation – ‘the basics’
- Part II A–Z Chest Radiology
- Abscess
- Achalasia
- Alveolar microlithiasis
- Aneurysm of the pulmonary artery
- Aortic arch aneurysm
- Aortic rupture
- Asbestos plaques
- Asthma
- Bochdalek hernia
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchocele
- Calcified granulomata
- Carcinoma
- Cardiac aneurysm
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Collapsed lung
- Consolidated lung
- Diaphragmatic hernia – acquired
- Diaphragmatic hernia – congenital
- Embolic disease
- Emphysematous bulla
- Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
- Flail chest
- Foregut duplication cyst
- Foreign body – inhaled
- Foreign body – swallowed
- Goitre
- Haemothorax
- Heart failure
- Hiatus hernia
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Incorrectly sited central venous line
- Kartagener syndrome
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
- Lymphoma
- Macleod's syndrome
- Mastectomy
- Mesothelioma
- Metastases
- Neuroenteric cyst
- Neurofibromatosis
- Pancoast tumour
- Pectus excavatum
- Pericardial cyst
- Pleural effusion
- Pleural mass
- Pneumoconiosis
- Pneumoperitoneum
- Pneumothorax
- Poland's syndrome
- Post lobectomy/post pneumonectomy
- Progressive massive fibrosis
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation
- Sarcoidosis
- Silicosis
- Subphrenic abscess
- Thoracoplasty
- Thymus – malignant thymoma
- Thymus – normal
- Tuberculosis
- Varicella pneumonia
- Wegener's granulomatosis
Summary
Characteristics
Solitary or multiple calcified nodules within the lung. They are often small, widespread and punctate. Solitary granulomata, particularly post TB infection, can be large up to several centimetres in diameter.
They represent a chronic healed immune reaction, within the lung, to the initial stimulus.
Post infective causes – TB, post varicella pneumonia.
Non-infectious causes – inhalation of organic and inorganic chemicals.
Clinical features
Patients often asymptomatic.
Previous history of infection or exposure to inhalational chemical.
Can develop a non-productive cough and shortness of breath.
Small risk of a pneumothorax.
Radiological features
CXR – dense calcified sharply marginated pulmonary nodules. They can be solitary, multiple, localised or widespread. Distribution may correlate with the underlying cause, e.g. previous TB in the upper lobes.
There is no growth in size of the calcified nodules over time.
Differential diagnosis
Calcified lung metastases (e.g. breast, thyroid, osteosarcoma, ovarian, testicular and mucinous tumours). They can be multiple or solitary. They are often larger in size with an antecedent history supporting the primary neoplasm. Importantly they enlarge over time.
ALWAYS COMPARE WITH OLD FILMS.
If concerned repeat the CXR at an interval period in time.
Management
No active management required.
No surveillance necessary.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- A-Z of Chest Radiology , pp. 54 - 55Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007