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.
Because it is very unreactive, helium is used to provide an inert protective atmosphere for making fibre optics and semiconductors, and for arc welding. Helium is also used to detect leaks, such as in car air-conditioning systems, and because it diffuses quickly it is used to inflate car airbags after impact. A mixture of 80% helium and 20% oxygen is used as an artificial atmosphere for deep-sea divers and others working under pressurised conditions. Helium-neon gas lasers are used to scan barcodes in supermarket checkouts.