American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What is the recommended duration for monitoring stability of a solitary pulmonary nodule through imaging?

1. 18 months

2. 24 months

3. 30 months

4. 36 months

The correct answer is: 24 months

The recommended duration for monitoring the stability of a solitary pulmonary nodule through imaging is 24 months. This time frame allows healthcare providers to effectively assess whether the nodule remains stable or shows any signs of growth that may indicate malignancy. During the first 2 years of observation, a stable nodule that does not grow in size is generally considered to have a low likelihood of being cancerous; thus, 24 months is a crucial period for follow-up imaging. After this period, if the nodule continues to show no growth, further monitoring may not be necessary, depending on the patient’s specific risk factors and the characteristics of the nodule itself. This approach helps optimize patient care by reducing unnecessary invasive procedures and radiation exposure while ensuring that suspicious nodules are appropriately evaluated.