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What Do Small Spots On Lung Indicate?
Question: My octor found 2 very smll spots on my right lung, after a cat scan. I went back for another scann 3 weekd later, and he told me to come back 3 weeks from now for him to see if he could tell if it had grown or shrank or possibly is gone. Question how common is it for something to be SARCOIDOSIS. I am concerened about cancer, but he said he doubted it.
Brief Answer:
Kindly share some more information
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear.Welcome and thanks for posting me on HCM.
I have thoroughly gone through your query & I deeply understand your concerns.
To understand and help you better I would be glad to know some more information-
Why did your doctor do a CAT scan?What were your initial complaints
Do you have any history of dry cough, shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, and malaise?
Do you have any eye symptoms or skin lesions?
Do you have fever on and off?Any history of frequent respiratory tract infections?
Do you smoke?
May I know your occupation sector?Environmental exposure?Medication history?
Kindly upload the report of CAT scan and the rest of the reports you may have to evaluate further.
Await you reply.
Kindly share some more information
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear.Welcome and thanks for posting me on HCM.
I have thoroughly gone through your query & I deeply understand your concerns.
To understand and help you better I would be glad to know some more information-
Why did your doctor do a CAT scan?What were your initial complaints
Do you have any history of dry cough, shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, and malaise?
Do you have any eye symptoms or skin lesions?
Do you have fever on and off?Any history of frequent respiratory tract infections?
Do you smoke?
May I know your occupation sector?Environmental exposure?Medication history?
Kindly upload the report of CAT scan and the rest of the reports you may have to evaluate further.
Await you reply.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The reason for the original cat scan is I have COPD, and empz. They do one aboaut every 6 months just to be safe. This is the first time theyh ever had any concerns. The asnwer to the nest question should have been clear enough as I had shown on the quesstionare that I had the above sickness.
No prior hisstory of any health problems until the COPD started 6 or 7 years ago. I no longer smoke and have not for almosst 10 years. My heart and as best as I knowl I am very healthy except for the problems brought on by COPD. I am now a retired airline poilot with over 28,000 hours flight time. I became a flight classroom instructor for 8 years after that and now am fully retired. I can't remember ever being sick until COPD except a slight cold or sometimes synus trouble. Only one surgery in my life and that was for apendix. No problems. I am in my air conditioned house about 90% of the time and therefore not exposed to anything harmful to the best of my knowledge. I do not have the Cat Scan paper work, as that is with my doctor. Back to my original question would be nice. I ask you to tell me abouut what you thought two very small spots on my right lung be SARCOIDOIS? And tell me a little about it. I hope this covers it.
No prior hisstory of any health problems until the COPD started 6 or 7 years ago. I no longer smoke and have not for almosst 10 years. My heart and as best as I knowl I am very healthy except for the problems brought on by COPD. I am now a retired airline poilot with over 28,000 hours flight time. I became a flight classroom instructor for 8 years after that and now am fully retired. I can't remember ever being sick until COPD except a slight cold or sometimes synus trouble. Only one surgery in my life and that was for apendix. No problems. I am in my air conditioned house about 90% of the time and therefore not exposed to anything harmful to the best of my knowledge. I do not have the Cat Scan paper work, as that is with my doctor. Back to my original question would be nice. I ask you to tell me abouut what you thought two very small spots on my right lung be SARCOIDOIS? And tell me a little about it. I hope this covers it.
Brief Answer:
Sarcoidosis is only possibility
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for sharing the information.
According to be these are few possibilities-
a. To the best of my knowledge small lung nodules < 5mm (as you rightly said small spots) are usually multiple in case of sarcoidosis and commonly associated with lymph node enlargement(mediastinal group present in the chest).In few cases these spots are atypical(single).I were to periodically monitor for change in size, shape and appearance.If they remain constant for 2 years then they are harmless(bening) and do not require any treatment.
b. If there are any changes in the spots then I were to evaluate further with the help of imaging modalities(PET scan), bronchoscopy or tissue biopsy to rule out cancer since you have a history of smoking.
c. More importantly, I were to also rule out other infectious conditions(like aspergillosis) which is associated with long standing COPD.
Thus it cannot be conclusively said only one finding(small spots) is due to sarcoidosis without any other association(skin lesions, chest symptoms, lymph node enlargement etc).I were to suggest you to discuss with your doctor what makes him strongly feel that it is sarcoidosis.
Hope this helps you.
Sarcoidosis is only possibility
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for sharing the information.
According to be these are few possibilities-
a. To the best of my knowledge small lung nodules < 5mm (as you rightly said small spots) are usually multiple in case of sarcoidosis and commonly associated with lymph node enlargement(mediastinal group present in the chest).In few cases these spots are atypical(single).I were to periodically monitor for change in size, shape and appearance.If they remain constant for 2 years then they are harmless(bening) and do not require any treatment.
b. If there are any changes in the spots then I were to evaluate further with the help of imaging modalities(PET scan), bronchoscopy or tissue biopsy to rule out cancer since you have a history of smoking.
c. More importantly, I were to also rule out other infectious conditions(like aspergillosis) which is associated with long standing COPD.
Thus it cannot be conclusively said only one finding(small spots) is due to sarcoidosis without any other association(skin lesions, chest symptoms, lymph node enlargement etc).I were to suggest you to discuss with your doctor what makes him strongly feel that it is sarcoidosis.
Hope this helps you.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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