Can You Be Diagnosed With COPD With A Chest X-ray Showing Atelectasis With No Other Abnormal Findings?

Posted on Fri, 16 Jun 2023

Question: Can you be diagnosed with COPD with a chest x-ray showing atlectasisis with no other finding and a normal CT scan of the lung and no other findings other than enlarged mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes without the MD listening to your lungs?

Not sure if I can trust this diagnosis.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Spirometry test

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Yes, I can understand your concern

The diagnosis of COPD is made in all cases by Spirometry test with bronchodilators. The chest X-ray or the chest CT is only supportive, not decisive.

I recommend you to discuss with your doctor to do the Spirometry test and then if it is COPD what grade is and what is the best treatment.

I hope to have been helpful.

Regards,
Dr. Jnikolla, Pulmonologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T