Pope Leo XIV is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days after a lung nodule was discovered during a medical examination.
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According to the Pope himself, the growth is small, localized and was detected at a very early stage. Doctors have recommended surgery to remove it.
The discovery has renewed discussion about pulmonary nodules and their possible connection to lung cancer. However, the presence of such a growth does not automatically mean that it is cancerous.
In an article published by The Conversation, researchers Sarah Diepstraten and John (Eddie) La Marca, from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), explain that lung nodules are common and, in the vast majority of cases, benign.
Pulmonary nodules are small lesions that develop in lung tissue, measuring up to 3 centimeters in diameter. They may be round or irregular in shape. When a growth is larger than 3 centimeters, it is classified as a pulmonary mass.
They are usually detected through chest imaging examinations, including X-rays and CT scans. Nodules are often identified incidentally during tests carried out for other health problems.
Data cited by the researchers show that these growths are more common than generally believed. In a study conducted in the Netherlands involving 10,431 people who had never smoked or had quit smoking, at least one pulmonary nodule was found in 37.7% of women and 47.5% of men.
In the United States, pulmonary nodules have been found in around 31% of chest CT scans.
Experts expect the wider use of imaging examinations and advances in technology to lead to the detection of an even greater number of nodules.
Around 95% of these growths are benign and do not represent cancer. Their causes may be linked to infections, immune system diseases or other factors.
Only a small proportion of cases, around 3.7% to 5.5%, may be a sign of early-stage lung cancer.
Risk is assessed by taking into account age, smoking history, a family history of lung cancer and exposure to hazardous substances, including asbestos.
To determine the nature of a nodule, doctors analyze its size, density and location, as well as how it may change over time. Comparing it with previous examinations can show whether the growth has increased in size or undergone other changes.
In certain cases, a biopsy may also be required for a more accurate assessment, helping distinguish between a benign and a malignant growth.
Surgical removal is considered when a nodule causes symptoms, grows rapidly or is deemed to carry a high risk of malignancy.
The operation may be performed through open surgery, but also using minimally invasive methods involving smaller incisions, cameras and surgical instruments. In special cases, robot-assisted surgery may also be used.
If an analysis after removal of the nodule confirms the presence of cancer, further treatment is determined according to the type and characteristics of the disease.
According to studies cited by the experts, patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer had a recurrence risk of 6–10% during the first four years after surgery. Thereafter, the risk fell to around 2% per year.
The case of Pope Leo XIV has drawn attention to the importance of regular checkups and the early identification of changes in the lungs.
However, the discovery of a pulmonary nodule does not in itself constitute a cancer diagnosis. Further examinations and tests are needed to determine the risk, depending on the characteristics of the growth and the patient’s condition.
Until the procedure has been completed and the relevant medical assessment has been carried out, the nature of the nodule discovered in Pope Leo XIV cannot be determined.
