Current concepts in imaging and management of the solitary pulmonary nodule

The solitary pulmonary nodule is a common lesion that has multiple benign and malignant causes and when detected often creates a diagnostic challenge. Such a challenge is framed on one side by the need to detect and diagnose lung cancer or other malignancies at an early manageable stage and on the other side by the need to restrain from unnecessary intervention on benign lesions. The article will review the current approach in identifying, evaluating and managing the solitary pulmonary nodule in which imaging and the radiologist play a pivotal role.