What is a lung nodule? Pope Leo to undergo surgery to remove lump
Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that he is set to undergo surgery to remove a “localized nodule” found on his lung after it was recently discovered in medical checks.
The Pope made the announcement in his Sunday noon blessing and is set to undergo surgery in the following days.
He said: “Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, doctors found a localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well localized. The doctors believe surgery is appropriate. Following their advice, I have therefore decided to undergo an operation to remove it.”
Lung nodules are small clumps of cells in the lungs that are often detected during imaging tests. According to the Mayo Clinic, most are non-cancerous and can be scar tissue from past lung infections.
In a message of support, Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said: “I wish to express to the Holy Father my personal closeness and that of the Italian Government for the trial he is called to face in the coming days.
“The serenity and tranquility with which he spoke of it in today’s Angelus reassure us. I am certain that the Italian people too will not fail to offer their support and affection.”
The Pope’s operation is scheduled for the first days of this week and the estimated post-operative recovery time will be about one week, said Matteo Bruni. Director of the Holy See Press Office.
Nodule Risk Facing The Pope
Lung nodules are areas forming denser than normal tissue and usually don’t cause symptoms. Although not uncommon, they need careful evaluation as cancerous ones are more difficult to treat as the disease advances.
A patient’s medical history, including past and current tobacco use, exposure to radon, recent infections, inflammation and history of cancer are all evaluated
The risk assessment also examines location of the nodule, as well as its size, speed of growth, calcium build up and whether the border areas are smooth, irregular or spiky.
Nodules that are small and aren’t growing are not likely to be cancerous.
If the nodule is enlarging, a patient will be put into active surveillance with a series of imaging appointments, generally with CT scans. Studies show that around 95 percent of nodules are benign.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
