American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What age group is considered high risk for solitary pulmonary nodules?

1. Under 40 years

2. Between 40-60 years

3. Over 60 years

4. All age groups

The correct answer is: Over 60 years

The age group that is considered high risk for solitary pulmonary nodules is individuals over 60 years. This is primarily due to the increased likelihood of malignancy associated with age. As people get older, particularly over the age of 60, their risk for lung cancer rises significantly, often due to a combination of factors such as a history of smoking, environmental exposures, and the natural aging process of the lungs. In clinical practice, solitary pulmonary nodules found in older patients warrant closer evaluation, including possible imaging follow-up and consideration of biopsy, due to the higher probability that these nodules could be cancerous. The risk stratification emphasizes the importance of age as a critical factor in determining the management of solitary pulmonary nodules. In younger individuals, such as those under 40, the likelihood of a solitary pulmonary nodule being malignant is considerably lower, resulting in different management approaches.