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What Does My CT Scan Report Indicate?
Question: Should i have a ct scan? Repeat xrays show very small unchanged round nodule. Had tb as a child. Very anxious. Feel ct will add to rather than relieve my worry. My GP says no. Specialist says yes even though risk is 0.5 out of 10 of it being sinister.
Brief Answer:
There is no harm in getting a ct chest done
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query on HCM.
The small unchanged nodule in your chest xray is most likely a healed granuloma especially in the background of the history of tuberculosis in the childhood.
I presume you have no chest symptoms. It has remained unchanged (not increased in size ) which is a favourable sign and shows it`s benign.
Though there is no definite indication for a CT chest but since you are so worried you may go ahead and get a CT done especially if you are a smoker. The risk of radiation is there but not very high.
A CT may confirm the nature of the lesion as well as allay your anxiety.
Take care.
There is no harm in getting a ct chest done
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query on HCM.
The small unchanged nodule in your chest xray is most likely a healed granuloma especially in the background of the history of tuberculosis in the childhood.
I presume you have no chest symptoms. It has remained unchanged (not increased in size ) which is a favourable sign and shows it`s benign.
Though there is no definite indication for a CT chest but since you are so worried you may go ahead and get a CT done especially if you are a smoker. The risk of radiation is there but not very high.
A CT may confirm the nature of the lesion as well as allay your anxiety.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Dear Dr. Dangwal,
Thank you for your reply. Both my GP and the doctor who reviewed the X-ray 12 weeks apart feel that it is a healed granuloma. The specialist also is of this view but suggests a CT scan to be certain. He made the point that an x-ray is 2 dimensional whereas a CT scan is 3 dimensional. I have never smoked. I do have an intermittent dry cough but have always had this as I suffer from mild asthma - I also sneeze a lot which further indicates an allergy. The x-ray depicted a dense, perfectly round very small nodule surrounded by a number of pin prick dots which is further evidence of my past TB history (I hope)
My concern about the CT scan is not so much the extra radiation risk (at my age I don't think this is so significant) but the concern that it will identify something that will require further unnecessary investigation and result in my anxiety levels increasing for a further period.
I do believe that health is about managing risk but,in order to make my decision I would ask what the risks are of the x-ray not identifying something more sinister happening in the background without there being any noticeable changes in my overall general health? Many thanks.
Thank you for your reply. Both my GP and the doctor who reviewed the X-ray 12 weeks apart feel that it is a healed granuloma. The specialist also is of this view but suggests a CT scan to be certain. He made the point that an x-ray is 2 dimensional whereas a CT scan is 3 dimensional. I have never smoked. I do have an intermittent dry cough but have always had this as I suffer from mild asthma - I also sneeze a lot which further indicates an allergy. The x-ray depicted a dense, perfectly round very small nodule surrounded by a number of pin prick dots which is further evidence of my past TB history (I hope)
My concern about the CT scan is not so much the extra radiation risk (at my age I don't think this is so significant) but the concern that it will identify something that will require further unnecessary investigation and result in my anxiety levels increasing for a further period.
I do believe that health is about managing risk but,in order to make my decision I would ask what the risks are of the x-ray not identifying something more sinister happening in the background without there being any noticeable changes in my overall general health? Many thanks.
Brief Answer:
CT is a more sensitive investigation in comparison to xray
Detailed Answer:
You will agree that most of the professionals you have consulted agree that it may be a healed granuloma.
Chest xray is a preliminary investigations which may show up something and may give a lead for further investigations.
CT is more sensitive in picking up things not shown on xray or further identifying the nature of a lesion picked up by xray. You have no symptoms and the nodule may be accidental discovery but there are times patient may be totally symptom free and something is picked up during an investigation and vice versa.
As for your concern that it may show something more, then don`t you thing it`s better that we face it and proceed in the correct direction rather than shying away. Though in your case such a scenario seems very unlikely.
As a pulmonologist, I also feel that you should get a CT done so that we can convincingly say what the nodule is.
CT is a more sensitive investigation in comparison to xray
Detailed Answer:
You will agree that most of the professionals you have consulted agree that it may be a healed granuloma.
Chest xray is a preliminary investigations which may show up something and may give a lead for further investigations.
CT is more sensitive in picking up things not shown on xray or further identifying the nature of a lesion picked up by xray. You have no symptoms and the nodule may be accidental discovery but there are times patient may be totally symptom free and something is picked up during an investigation and vice versa.
As for your concern that it may show something more, then don`t you thing it`s better that we face it and proceed in the correct direction rather than shying away. Though in your case such a scenario seems very unlikely.
As a pulmonologist, I also feel that you should get a CT done so that we can convincingly say what the nodule is.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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