system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 36-year-old man presents to a physician with the complaint of a dry cough for the last 2 months. He denies any nasal discharge, sneezing, nose congestion, blood in sputum, breathlessness, fever, or weight loss. He started smoking 2 years back. His temperature is 37.3°C (99.2°F), the heart rate is 88/min, the blood pressure is 118/78 mm Hg, and the respiratory rate is 18/min. Auscultation of the lungs reveals localized rhonchi over the left infrascapular region. His chest radiogram reveals a single, round-shaped nodule with scalloped margins in the lower zone of the left lung. The nodule is surrounded by normally aerated lung tissue, and its size is approx. 9 mm (0.35 in) in diameter. The physician explains to him that he requires further diagnostic evaluation, as the nodule could be malignant. On the radiogram, which of the following features of the nodule is associated with the increased possibility of a malignant lesion?
assistant
Lack of calcification