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What Does The Following Chest CT Scan Report Indicate?
Question: I had a CT of my chest done last year due to shortness of breath and a reduced DLCO on my pulmonary function tests. However, it did not show any signs of ILD or PE. Are there any conditions that could not show on the CT and require further imaging?
This had all started after receiving iron infusions. I began having delayed shortness of breath after the infusions. The hemotologist said that in very rare cases it could cause fibrosis. I've also read that iron can deposit itself in tissues causing problems. Is this possible and what imaging would show this? Or could there be an allergic response causing vascular inflammation? And would this show on a CT scan?
This had all started after receiving iron infusions. I began having delayed shortness of breath after the infusions. The hemotologist said that in very rare cases it could cause fibrosis. I've also read that iron can deposit itself in tissues causing problems. Is this possible and what imaging would show this? Or could there be an allergic response causing vascular inflammation? And would this show on a CT scan?
Brief Answer:
Please get tested for iron deposition if required
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
As your doctor has already discussed, lungs are usually not affected due to iron therapy. In the lungs, iron deposition is rare and when it happens, there can be fibrosis. A significant fibrosis can be visualised on chest X-ray. Minimal lung fibrosis is not apparent on chest X-rays but is always visualised on CT scan.
In the setting of decreased DLCO, CT scan is recommended to evaluate lung changes like ILD and pulmonary vascular disease. If your CT scan done is normal then ILD does not look like a possibility. Therefore evaluation of other conditions like cardiac insufficiency is important if you are having persistent shortness of breath with decreased DLCO.
In your case, there are organs like liver and heart which can be affected due to iron deposition which can cause shortness of breath. Iron deposition can cause shortness of breath. To check for excess iron deposition you can get your blood tested as a basic exam. If the results blood iron levels is high then you can discuss quantification of iron overload and if MRI scan is to be done. Iron quantification in liver is possible by MRI scans.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards.
Please get tested for iron deposition if required
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
As your doctor has already discussed, lungs are usually not affected due to iron therapy. In the lungs, iron deposition is rare and when it happens, there can be fibrosis. A significant fibrosis can be visualised on chest X-ray. Minimal lung fibrosis is not apparent on chest X-rays but is always visualised on CT scan.
In the setting of decreased DLCO, CT scan is recommended to evaluate lung changes like ILD and pulmonary vascular disease. If your CT scan done is normal then ILD does not look like a possibility. Therefore evaluation of other conditions like cardiac insufficiency is important if you are having persistent shortness of breath with decreased DLCO.
In your case, there are organs like liver and heart which can be affected due to iron deposition which can cause shortness of breath. Iron deposition can cause shortness of breath. To check for excess iron deposition you can get your blood tested as a basic exam. If the results blood iron levels is high then you can discuss quantification of iron overload and if MRI scan is to be done. Iron quantification in liver is possible by MRI scans.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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