Atelectasis is defined as diminished air in the lung, along with decreased lung volume. Dependent atelectasis is short-hand for gravity-dependent atelectasis. It is related to the mechanical properties of the lung. It is not a sign of a specific problem. For that matter, when dependent atelectasis occurs on both sides of the lung it is not even an indicator of disease.
Pleural plaques are scars of the pleura, a very thin membrane that covers the lung. The most common cause of these is asbestosis. These should be watched, at least for a couple years, at 6 to 12 month intervals.
You are correct about spiculation being one of the characteristics that make a nodule more likely to be cancer, even when the nodule is small, being less than 2 centimeters in diameter. Yet the likelihood of lung cancer in a non-smoker, your age, is small. The suggestion that you wait 6 months to repeat the scan is reasonable. Given your understandable anxiety, however, you might ask if the first repeat scan be done at 3 months. Although, in truth, 3 months is a short period to expect any change.
If this is a cancer, it has been identified at a very early stage. The odds of cure, with surgical removal, would be very much in your favor. It is unlikely that a lesion this size is related to your chronic chest pain.
i just said a prayer for you that it means NOTHING. I had a scan on Friday and am waiting for my doctor's telephone call with the test results... i HATE not knowing what is what...
it would be easy to say to you, don't worry (for the next 6 months) but hard for you to actually do!! Good luck.
Thank you for answering my questions. I will wait the 6mos, I'm sure it will ok.
Irish65 Thank you for your encourgement. I also said a prayer for you. Good luck with everything.