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Suggest Treatment For Calcified Granuloma In The Lung
Question: Hi doctor:
I am not a doctor but have been a student of medicine all my life. I do professional medical writing as well for the CBS stations. I am post 65 years and in generally good health.
This is about calcified granuloma found in the right lung; mostly middle lobe. Radiologist indicated no anaplasia. I presented with a dry cough in early November; others had same, so I took it as a virus (no temp, no color sputum when it was produced). The cough evolved into an episodic event, mostly in the afternoon and evening; expectorants worked/work quite well. I should state here that we recently moved to an area on the eastern slopes of the XXXXXXX Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe from Sonoma County. Very dry and steady chimney smoke in the winter (I took this as a possibility). I should include here that I had pneumonia in 1993, but no pathogen was determined at the time. As mentioned, I sought medical evaluation in neighboring Nevada. The doctor is not a specialist in pulmonary diseases and am thinking I will seek more expert advise in the matter, probably in San XXXXXXX (UCSF Med center). I write this because the cough still persists, but not as intense. I am getting mostly clear sputum; no blood. My question is: am I thinking int he right direction? Should I continue for a more precise diagnosis? And does any of this sound familiar? I will say that many in the area, including the those in the cities below us (Carson City, etc.) have a very similar problem. I have no other symptoms.
If you have time, and thank you in advance.
XXXXXXX C
I am not a doctor but have been a student of medicine all my life. I do professional medical writing as well for the CBS stations. I am post 65 years and in generally good health.
This is about calcified granuloma found in the right lung; mostly middle lobe. Radiologist indicated no anaplasia. I presented with a dry cough in early November; others had same, so I took it as a virus (no temp, no color sputum when it was produced). The cough evolved into an episodic event, mostly in the afternoon and evening; expectorants worked/work quite well. I should state here that we recently moved to an area on the eastern slopes of the XXXXXXX Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe from Sonoma County. Very dry and steady chimney smoke in the winter (I took this as a possibility). I should include here that I had pneumonia in 1993, but no pathogen was determined at the time. As mentioned, I sought medical evaluation in neighboring Nevada. The doctor is not a specialist in pulmonary diseases and am thinking I will seek more expert advise in the matter, probably in San XXXXXXX (UCSF Med center). I write this because the cough still persists, but not as intense. I am getting mostly clear sputum; no blood. My question is: am I thinking int he right direction? Should I continue for a more precise diagnosis? And does any of this sound familiar? I will say that many in the area, including the those in the cities below us (Carson City, etc.) have a very similar problem. I have no other symptoms.
If you have time, and thank you in advance.
XXXXXXX C
Brief Answer:
Calcified granuloma is not a concern, please consult pulmonary specialist
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Having seen many patients with nodules in lungs classified as calcified granuloma, I reassure you that the calcified granuloma seen on CT scan by itself is not a serious concern. As you are a medical writer yourself and know about the various organs, the lungs often become the focus of infection. It is possible that you had a mild infection in the lungs and this might have occurred months to years before (much before the recent dry cough in november last year). It can as well be from the pneumonia you had in 1993. At that time the infection was treated and the lung tissues healed. This healing has continued over time and has presently taken the appearance of a calcified granuloma. In other words, there has been calcium deposition as a part of healing and therefore the appearance on CT scan.
Discussing your present clinical symptoms of cough, that is not intense and with a clear sputum, possibilities like a mild chronic inflammation, hypersensitivity or manifestation of allergy might have to be considered.
You are surely thinking in the right direction. Having recently moved to an area on the eastern slopes of the XXXXXXX Nevada mountains and your condition might have geographic distribution. It is recommended that you consult a doctor who is a pulmonary disease specialist at San XXXXXXX (UCSF Med center). The pulmonary disease specialist should be able to provide you with a more accurate diagnosis after clinical evaluation of your symptoms.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Calcified granuloma is not a concern, please consult pulmonary specialist
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Having seen many patients with nodules in lungs classified as calcified granuloma, I reassure you that the calcified granuloma seen on CT scan by itself is not a serious concern. As you are a medical writer yourself and know about the various organs, the lungs often become the focus of infection. It is possible that you had a mild infection in the lungs and this might have occurred months to years before (much before the recent dry cough in november last year). It can as well be from the pneumonia you had in 1993. At that time the infection was treated and the lung tissues healed. This healing has continued over time and has presently taken the appearance of a calcified granuloma. In other words, there has been calcium deposition as a part of healing and therefore the appearance on CT scan.
Discussing your present clinical symptoms of cough, that is not intense and with a clear sputum, possibilities like a mild chronic inflammation, hypersensitivity or manifestation of allergy might have to be considered.
You are surely thinking in the right direction. Having recently moved to an area on the eastern slopes of the XXXXXXX Nevada mountains and your condition might have geographic distribution. It is recommended that you consult a doctor who is a pulmonary disease specialist at San XXXXXXX (UCSF Med center). The pulmonary disease specialist should be able to provide you with a more accurate diagnosis after clinical evaluation of your symptoms.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you for your promptness and somewhat relieving evaluation. I have noted that histoplasmosis can be a contributing source, but find the dry climate would be less likely to support any of the molds.
Sounds like you agree that a pulmonary specialist is in order, in conclusion.
I have to include that my father was a thoracic surgeon in the 1930's and forties. He contributed to the thoracoplasty procedure of collapsing the lung, etc., in T.B. (then referred to as The White Plague. Many procedures were before antibiotics, yet they/he never lost patient. I can't help but wonder if the confidence in the use of antibiotics has given doctors and staff in moderns times less concern for prophlaxis(?) And in a world of mutating bacteria, etc., perhaps this should be scrutinized.
Thanks again.
XXXXXXX
Sounds like you agree that a pulmonary specialist is in order, in conclusion.
I have to include that my father was a thoracic surgeon in the 1930's and forties. He contributed to the thoracoplasty procedure of collapsing the lung, etc., in T.B. (then referred to as The White Plague. Many procedures were before antibiotics, yet they/he never lost patient. I can't help but wonder if the confidence in the use of antibiotics has given doctors and staff in moderns times less concern for prophlaxis(?) And in a world of mutating bacteria, etc., perhaps this should be scrutinized.
Thanks again.
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Wish you a quick recovery following consultation with pulmonary specialist
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX ,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Histoplasmosis can be thought of if you have recently been to the woods. It is said to be associated with exposure to bird and bat droppings.
Consulting the pulmonary specialist will surely help you and is in order.
I strongly support your views and how wonderfully patients were treated back then even without routine use of antibiotics lives were saved and patients made complete recovery. In my opinion, mutation of bacteria, viruses and fungi has been on the rise since the evolution of antimicrobials. Judicious use is recommended in present days to avoid a biological catastrophe in future. People are also having less tolerance and immunity and want a quick cure. In many countries this has resulted in misuse of steroid medications and relapses with side effects.
I highly appreciate your concern in this regard.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Wish you a quick recovery following consultation with pulmonary specialist
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX ,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Histoplasmosis can be thought of if you have recently been to the woods. It is said to be associated with exposure to bird and bat droppings.
Consulting the pulmonary specialist will surely help you and is in order.
I strongly support your views and how wonderfully patients were treated back then even without routine use of antibiotics lives were saved and patients made complete recovery. In my opinion, mutation of bacteria, viruses and fungi has been on the rise since the evolution of antimicrobials. Judicious use is recommended in present days to avoid a biological catastrophe in future. People are also having less tolerance and immunity and want a quick cure. In many countries this has resulted in misuse of steroid medications and relapses with side effects.
I highly appreciate your concern in this regard.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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