$re = '/[\s\S]{0,10}previously measured[\s\S]{0,10}|([0-4]\.\d+\s*[mM]{2})[\s\S]{0,70}?[Nn]odule|[Nn]odule[\s\S]{0,70}?([0-4]\.\d+\s*[mM]{2})/s';
$str = '"For example, the largest nodule which is located in the right lower lobe and currently measures 4.4 mm (image #82, series 3) previously measured 3.6 mm on 09/01/2011."
"For example, the largest nodule which is located in the right lower lobe and currently measures 4.4 mm (image #82, series 3) previously measured 3.6 mm on 09/01/2011. Another nodule was found measuring 2.2 mm.';
preg_match_all($re, $str, $matches, PREG_SET_ORDER, 0);
// Print the entire match result
var_dump($matches);
Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for PHP, please visit: http://php.net/manual/en/ref.pcre.php