I recently had a chest ct. the radiologist noted "malignancy" in right lung. how can this diagnosis be true without a biopsy? i was diagnosed with pneumonia 1 month ago. the symptoms that led to seeing a surgeon was right lower quadrant pain and back p

While : While a biopsy is usually necessary to determine the specific nature of a tumor, it is often possible to tell with great certainty from a ct scan that a mass is malignant. In all likelihood, you will need a biopsy both to confirm the radiologist's supicions and also to determine exactly what type of cells are involved. Even if it is a cancer, the specific cell type would be critical in determining what type of therapy is best.

Not exactly: Your suspicions are reasonable. Actual diagnosis requires tissue, i.e. Biopsy and/or resection. There are features in radiologic imaging that are highly suggestive of a malignant process. However, this by itself is not a diagnosis.