What it means
A solid bump, larger than a papule, usually 1 to 2 cm across. It may sit in the skin, under it, or in an organ such as the lung or thyroid, where it is found on a scan. Many nodules are harmless; some are inflamed, infected or cancerous, so new ones are checked. Rheumatoid nodules form near joints in some people with rheumatoid arthritisROO-muh-toyd ar-THRY-tisA long-term autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints.rheumat/o flowing, joint pain-oid likearthr/o joint-itis inflammationFull entry .
For the nurse
Describe a skin nodule by size, location, color, firmness, whether it moves and whether it is tender, and report one that is new or growing.
At a glance
| Spanish | nódulo |
|---|---|
| Also written | nodules, nodular |