HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Can A X-ray Test Detect Lung Cancer?

Posted on Tue, 22 Mar 2016

Question: Hello a chest x ray revealed that I had peribronchial cuffing or edema. the doctor thought I had a case of bronchitis (this was at walk in clinic. My family doctor thought it may be reoccurrence childhood asthma. However I have started treatment with symbacort 160 2 puffs a day. singular 10mg once a day. my sympotms are mild fatigue chest discomfort and shortness of breathe (mild). ive had no cough. ekg and echocardiogram came back normal. echocardiogram was done 10 days before peribronchial cuffing was found on chest x ray.
my questions are

would x ray show lung cancer?
can this be lung cancer?
should I be worried

I never smoke but from birth to 18 have second hand smoked. ive been clean of second hand smoke for 3 years. I am now 21.

I also get head aches in the back of my head and mild random pains in my left hand at night.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No need to worry for lung cancer.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, lung cancer can be picked up by chest x ray. In fact chest x ray is tge screening tool for lung cancer.
But it can not diagnose early lung cancer (size less than 2 cm).
For this CT scan is needed. But since your age is only 21 years, possibility of lung cancer is very very rare.
So no need to worry for lung cancer.
Possibility of viral bronchitis is more in your case.
So continue inhaler and wait for 1-2 weeks, you will mostly improve.
Don't worry about lung cancer.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Thank you for your response. My discomfert seems to be lower in the ribs right where the bone starts and it feels like scratchy. Is this related to asthma or peribronchial cuffing, or somthing else?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do you have pain with movements?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
Uncontrolled asthma can cause similar kind of dull pain.
But possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more.
So please let me know
1. Do you have pain associated with movements?
2. Do you have pain on pressing that area?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)

I feel it during deep breathing. I have an 79 degree kyphosis and exgerated lumbar lordosis. It feels like an air bull be and everyone in awhile when I lay down it will take my breath away from me. I also have mild acid reflux. Xray at the time January 21 said peribronchial cuffing or edema. Heart was normal sign lungs were otherwise clear no irritates or pueral effusions. But the doctor and radiologist just thought it was a mild case of acute bronchitis but I have symptoms for five weeks before I had the xray. I also had childhood asthma but stop having symptoms at 12 and my pcp belives this is asthma but orderd a ct to make sure chest discomfert is all over mainly the top upper right side and the bottom rib cage. Button rib cage discomfert is worse with deep breathing and laying down.

No pain while pressing in the area. Just a discomfert in the little v where the ribs come togeather

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get done PFT.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So you are also having spinal deformity.
You didn't tell this before.
This fact opens one more possibility.
We should rule out Restrictive lung disease in your case.
It is common in spinal deformity.
So please get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
PFT will also diagnose asthma if present.
So please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone PFT?
2. Do you have breathlessness on exertion?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

Not untill recently but yes now I can't lift weights or run or anything like that. But I saw my spinal surgeoon in October and he felt that my curve needed to be worse 100 degrees plus to cause lung or heart problems. Also my peek flow spirometer was a 525 and oxygen sat is 99

Could that cause peribronchial cuffing and also if I have surgery to correct my kyphosis will that correct the lung disease? I have a barrel chest. I'll post pics

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, chest x ray is needed to comment on that.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, spinal deformity can cause peribronchial puffing.
But to confirm this, I need to see the chest x ray.
Please send me chest x ray images,so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 minutes later)

I unforantly do not have the chest x ray but I can get it in a couple days. Also will surgery fix the lung disease? Kyphosis surgery I mean. All I have is the report for the x ray right now

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Chest x ray film will me more useful to comment further.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I have gone through the reports you have attached.
Sorry to say but chest x ray film will be more useful to comment further.
Advantage after surgery is questionable. This will also answered after seeing x ray film.
Honestly speaking, these surgeries are not much beneficial and it is recommended in severe deformities only.
Please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone CT thorax?
2. Have you ever undergone PFT?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

I have a chest ct orderd and will be having it next week. Only pulmonary test I've ever done was sipormeter 525 score I also did echocardiogram all came out great

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
How old is this score?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Get done CT thorax. This will be more helpful in understanding your spinal deformity and x ray findings.
So get done CT thorax.
Please let me know
1. How old is this score of 525? Do you breathing difficulty on exertion at the time of score?
2. Do you have any allergies?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (19 minutes later)

That 525 score is a week old and was prior to starting asthma meds that score was taken same day as peribronchial cuffing was found. I did have what I call tight breathing so I wasent short of breath but breathing felt like it took more muscle, as if my lungs were clean. I can go up stairs and walk easily but I can exersise or engage in sexual activities without feeling weak and tired

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Get done CT thorax and PFT both.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You had mistakenly wrote but in your last line of last answer.
Is it so?
You are not breathless by any activity. Right?
And you should also get done PFT along with CT. This will be more informative.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar