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What Is a Pulmonary Rheumatoid Nodule?

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sometimes develop lung-related complications known collectively as rheumatoid lung disease. In some cases, this disease manifests as noncancerous lumps in the lungs called pulmonary rheumatoid nodules.

  1. Frequency

    • Roughly one percent of RA patients show signs of pulmonary rheumatoid nodules in conventional X-rays, according to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. However, high resolution computed tomography (CT) scans reveal signs of nodules in roughly 22 to 28 percent of patients.

    Affected Individuals

    • Rheumatoid lung nodules appear most frequently in men with active RA who also have high blood levels of the autoimmune antibody called rheumatoid factor, Johns Hopkins reports. Women and individuals with low blood levels of rheumatoid factor may also be affected. Smoking may be a risk factor for these nodules.

    Symptoms and Complications

    • Typically, rheumatoid lung nodules do not cause symptoms and do not develop into lung cancer, the Mayo Clinic reports. Potential complications include erosion of a nodule through the lung, infection and pneumothorax (collapsed lung).

    Nodule Changes

    • Rheumatoid lung nodules may change size, disappear on their own or arise in new locations.

    Additional Effects

    • Additional potential effects of rheumatoid lung disease include pulmonary fibrosis (lung scarring), pulmonary hypertension (localized high blood pressure) and pleural effusion (fluid buildup inside the chest).

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