A pulmonary nodule is a discrete opacity in the lung which may be caused by: 1  Neoplasm: benign or malignant. 2  Granuloma: tuberculosis. 3  Infection: roundish pneumonia. 4  Vascular: infarct, varix, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, rheumatoid arthritis.
1 Helium is also commonly used to pressurize and purge systems of unwanted gases. 2  It is also used in controlled atmospheres when the levels of different gases have to be kept constant. 3  It is used as a protective gas when growing silicon and germanium crystals and when producing titanium and zirconium.
Helium, neon, argon and krypton are used in gas discharge decorative ligthing, called neon lights. Argon is used to fill incandescent light bulbs to inhibit the evaporation of the tungsten filaments and increase bulb life.