Chest Pain, Coughing Blood, Breathing Noises, Bronchoscopy Showed Non Cancer Lesions. Want A Single Scan To Cover Heart And Lungs
Question: Hello,
I have been having chest pain problems and low O2 sats for many years, I have seen many doctors and had many scans - I have started coughing up blood and having breathing noises, on a recent CT of abdomen they saw something possibly in the bottom of my lung - I have some symptoms that could prove to be heart related and a Bronchoscopy found non cancer lesions and washings produced some abnormal cells - my concern is that in the last 2-3 yrs I have had about 7 x plain chest xrays - 2 x Chest CT - 1 x Chest Spiral Angiogram - Another Chest Head and Abdo CT after a car accident - A normal abdo CT and 2 other CT's of chest - as well as a Gallium scan - most of these scans were done with the radioactive XXXXXXX - I dont want to have any more scans, but my doctor insists because of what was seen on the Abdo and because of the abnormal cells found in the washings from the bronchoscopy... I want a single scan to cover heart and lungs as there is some discussion to say I might have heart embolism - the docotr has ordered a CT PA with High Res reconstruction - each time I get these scans, the next doctor says "Oh you should have gotten "x" type of scan, these are not of use" - I am concerened about my radiaton exposure and I want to know if there is another type of scan I could do that covers everything, I dont want to have this scan for the Pulmonologist and find out I need another for a Cardiologist
I have been having chest pain problems and low O2 sats for many years, I have seen many doctors and had many scans - I have started coughing up blood and having breathing noises, on a recent CT of abdomen they saw something possibly in the bottom of my lung - I have some symptoms that could prove to be heart related and a Bronchoscopy found non cancer lesions and washings produced some abnormal cells - my concern is that in the last 2-3 yrs I have had about 7 x plain chest xrays - 2 x Chest CT - 1 x Chest Spiral Angiogram - Another Chest Head and Abdo CT after a car accident - A normal abdo CT and 2 other CT's of chest - as well as a Gallium scan - most of these scans were done with the radioactive XXXXXXX - I dont want to have any more scans, but my doctor insists because of what was seen on the Abdo and because of the abnormal cells found in the washings from the bronchoscopy... I want a single scan to cover heart and lungs as there is some discussion to say I might have heart embolism - the docotr has ordered a CT PA with High Res reconstruction - each time I get these scans, the next doctor says "Oh you should have gotten "x" type of scan, these are not of use" - I am concerened about my radiaton exposure and I want to know if there is another type of scan I could do that covers everything, I dont want to have this scan for the Pulmonologist and find out I need another for a Cardiologist
Hi,
Thanks for the query. It was a busy day hence I was late.
I have gone through your query. It would be good if you can provide few more details.
Please let me know the differential diagnosis given by your previous CT scan ( Impression written at the end of the report) and have you taken any treatment to address these problems?
Do you smoke? If yes since how long and what are your symptoms?
What is the finding of CT Pulmonary Angiogram?
Please send the reports of these tests. Viewing them I can precisely reply you what to do to avoid any test with radioactive material if you are afraid of Radiation.
With thanks from
Dr Chowhan
Thanks for the query. It was a busy day hence I was late.
I have gone through your query. It would be good if you can provide few more details.
Please let me know the differential diagnosis given by your previous CT scan ( Impression written at the end of the report) and have you taken any treatment to address these problems?
Do you smoke? If yes since how long and what are your symptoms?
What is the finding of CT Pulmonary Angiogram?
Please send the reports of these tests. Viewing them I can precisely reply you what to do to avoid any test with radioactive material if you are afraid of Radiation.
With thanks from
Dr Chowhan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar