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What Causes Intermittent Pain Under The Rib Cage?
Question: i have had chest pain on and off under both ribs for a few months. On doing a chest xray it showed nothing the doctor then suggested to get a CT chest done. The ct chest showed moderate diffuse pleural thickening with enlarged lymph nodes in the subcarinal region measuring 2.5 and 1.6 . It is scaring me like anthing . The conclusion says the possibilities include infective etiology such as TB or primary pleural pathology like mesothelioma. Other primary or secondary pathologies are also not entirely excluded.
Brief Answer:
Needs work up and management
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read yoru question and i understand your concern. YOu are overwhelmed by these fancy reporting. Nodes can swell due to simple infections like cold and flu and allergies , so dont bother. Thickened pleural membrances can be a sequelae of infection and can be considered for fibrosis . Nutshell, most likely infective process is suspicion and work up for tuberculosis and other infections should be considered. Bronchial lavage, sputum gene expert and AFB studies should be considered for tuberculosis. At age of 26 with no pleural effusion, i dont think its mesothelioma but no harm in getting a pleural biopsy done and let them exclude that too. All you need is to visit a pulmonologist and let them help you in this regard. I am sure and hope that what ever it its, it will be manageable.
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
Needs work up and management
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read yoru question and i understand your concern. YOu are overwhelmed by these fancy reporting. Nodes can swell due to simple infections like cold and flu and allergies , so dont bother. Thickened pleural membrances can be a sequelae of infection and can be considered for fibrosis . Nutshell, most likely infective process is suspicion and work up for tuberculosis and other infections should be considered. Bronchial lavage, sputum gene expert and AFB studies should be considered for tuberculosis. At age of 26 with no pleural effusion, i dont think its mesothelioma but no harm in getting a pleural biopsy done and let them exclude that too. All you need is to visit a pulmonologist and let them help you in this regard. I am sure and hope that what ever it its, it will be manageable.
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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