A calcified granuloma is a mass within the tissues of a particular organ, usually the lungs, that has calcified. Calcification refers to the accumulation of calcium within a substance, much like what occurs within bones. When this occurs within a granuloma, it hardens and develops the same density as bone. Granulomas are benign and usually do not cause any health problems. They are usually caused by a fungal infection.
The most common area for a calcified granuloma to appear is in the lungs, although they can also occur in other organs such as the kidneys or liver. They are generally not harmful and usually do not cause any symptoms. Most patients find out they have them during an exam for another, unrelated condition. Although they are benign, they can sometimes look like cancer on an X-ray if the calcification has not become severe.
In most cases of a calcific granuloma, the initial cause is a fungal infection. Many patients never realize they are infected, but the tissues within the lungs or other organs become inflamed and granulomas form as a result. These areas of infection calcify over time if they are not removed and if they do not go away on their own. In general, this does not cause complications.
Most patients do not need to have a calcified granuloma removed, although this varies depending on the location and size of the mass. Very large ones or those that occur in certain places, such as the throat, can be removed. They usually do not cause pain, but this can vary depending on the person and the area where it is located. However, they are often removed when seen on an x-ray to ensure they are not cancerous.
Since there are usually no symptoms associated with calcified granulomas, it can be hard to tell if someone has them. Whether they cause symptoms will usually depend on the location of the mass and its location, as well as its size. Those found in the lungs can occasionally cause shortness of breath, heaviness in the chest, coughing, and sometimes coughing up blood. This usually leads to further investigation. If the calcification is severe, the area is often seen immediately to be a granuloma rather than cancer, but if not, a biopsy may be done.