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What Does My CT Scan Report Indicate?
Question: Scared to Death I have a poorly marginated 3.2 X 2.7 cm pulmonary lesion in the left perihilar/upper lobe region that has developed since 12/31/15 Previous measurement 12mm--I am having in CT in a week My doctor says 85% sure not malignant.. But everything I read point in other direction.. Said could me pneumonia and no lymhnodes are present. what is your opinion? I have a dry cough
Brief Answer:
Possibility of malignant nodule is also there.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Your nodule size is definitely increased. So there is possibility of malignant nodule.
Looking into the scans (CT films) will be more informative.
So you need further workup like CT guided biopsy, bronchoscopy, blood tumour markers etc for further management.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Possibility of malignant nodule is also there.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Your nodule size is definitely increased. So there is possibility of malignant nodule.
Looking into the scans (CT films) will be more informative.
So you need further workup like CT guided biopsy, bronchoscopy, blood tumour markers etc for further management.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Could scar tissue or pneumonia change the size. Why did my doctor say she don't think its cancer. What does poorly marginated mean?
Thank you
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Scar tissue won't change size.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Scar tissue remain as it is through out the life. So it won't change size.
Pneumonia definitely change size but it is rapid process. Pneumonia either subside or worsen in few days to few weeks, not years.
So in your case, it is slowly growing pulmonary nodule and hence Malignant nodule is still a possibility.
Poorly marginated means you can not clearly identify the margins of nodule and hence can not separate normal lung tissue with nodule's margins (borders).
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Scar tissue won't change size.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Scar tissue remain as it is through out the life. So it won't change size.
Pneumonia definitely change size but it is rapid process. Pneumonia either subside or worsen in few days to few weeks, not years.
So in your case, it is slowly growing pulmonary nodule and hence Malignant nodule is still a possibility.
Poorly marginated means you can not clearly identify the margins of nodule and hence can not separate normal lung tissue with nodule's margins (borders).
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Dear Dr. Bhavsar:
Thank you for the informative answer. Say it is not a malignant tumor what else could it be?? So, poorly marginated could mean that they are not sure of the size of the nodule? I have CT Scan on Friday 3/24/17.. Very Very scared have spinal cord issues also with compromised balance..What are my options if it is cancer.. Is that a small size tumor? and doctor menitoned cyberknife surgery.... What does she see because she says 86% sure not a cancer.. what makes her say that?? Would you say that this is leaning more toward a malignant tumor than not?? Thank you please understand my concerns and nerveousness!!
Thank you for the informative answer. Say it is not a malignant tumor what else could it be?? So, poorly marginated could mean that they are not sure of the size of the nodule? I have CT Scan on Friday 3/24/17.. Very Very scared have spinal cord issues also with compromised balance..What are my options if it is cancer.. Is that a small size tumor? and doctor menitoned cyberknife surgery.... What does she see because she says 86% sure not a cancer.. what makes her say that?? Would you say that this is leaning more toward a malignant tumor than not?? Thank you please understand my concerns and nerveousness!!
Brief Answer:
Slow growing nature of nodule is the only reason for me.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concerns and nervousness.
First of all sorry for late reply as I was not in country.
Answer to your 1st question.
If this is not malignant nodule then possibility of Scar tissue is more. Pneumonia or infective etiology is less likely because these are fast growing lesions.
Answer to your 2nd question.
Yes, this is not the exact size. But CT scan is 95% more accurate and reliable in measuring size.
Answer to your 3rd question.
If this is cancer then you will need PET scan to see if there is any distal metastasis present or not. If distal metastases are absent then surgical removal (cyber knife) of the nodule is the treatment of choice.
Answer to your 4rth question.
I don't know why she is 85% sure about non malignant etiology.
Answer to your 5th question.
Slow growing nature of the nodule is the only reason for my opinion about malignant nodule.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Slow growing nature of nodule is the only reason for me.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concerns and nervousness.
First of all sorry for late reply as I was not in country.
Answer to your 1st question.
If this is not malignant nodule then possibility of Scar tissue is more. Pneumonia or infective etiology is less likely because these are fast growing lesions.
Answer to your 2nd question.
Yes, this is not the exact size. But CT scan is 95% more accurate and reliable in measuring size.
Answer to your 3rd question.
If this is cancer then you will need PET scan to see if there is any distal metastasis present or not. If distal metastases are absent then surgical removal (cyber knife) of the nodule is the treatment of choice.
Answer to your 4rth question.
I don't know why she is 85% sure about non malignant etiology.
Answer to your 5th question.
Slow growing nature of the nodule is the only reason for my opinion about malignant nodule.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you for the helpful information. Do you, by chance have offices in XXXXXXX IL.? So it is possible that the nodule can be smaller because they can not clearly see it.. My doctor did mention could be scar tissue also. In 12/13/15 it was 12MM so it has grown to 27MM in 16 months is that correct. If you could answer these questions I would be grateful.. Thank you Dr. Bhavsar
Brief Answer:
No, I don't have any linked offices in XXXXXXX
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Sorry to say but I don't have any linked offices in XXXXXXX
Yes, your perception is correct. Your nodule is increasing in size by 27mm in last 16 months.
Get done repeat scan after 8-10 months.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
No, I don't have any linked offices in XXXXXXX
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Sorry to say but I don't have any linked offices in XXXXXXX
Yes, your perception is correct. Your nodule is increasing in size by 27mm in last 16 months.
Get done repeat scan after 8-10 months.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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