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What Does This Chest CT Scan Report Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 25 Oct 2016

Question: Please review my Chest CT scan (see picture)

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Have you done bronchoscopy?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the CT chest you have attached.
You wrote that you are negative for tuberculosis.
Is this on the basis of blood reports or bronchoscopy findings?
Have you undergone bronchoscopy for the diagnosis?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 hours later)

The dr has not offered a bronchoscopy yet. It was based on a blood test. Is there anything significant about my consolidation connecting to a pulmonary vein branch, as written in the CT scan? I am taking another test for Valley Fever--a skin test. And a PFT this Friday.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Nothing significant about consolidation.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the CT report again.
Nothing significant about consolidation and Pulmonary vein.
So no need to worry for this.
Have you discussed about need for Bronchoscopy with your doctor?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)

I asked and he said he wanted a PET and other bloodwork first. I have developed a cough, believe due to a cold or allergy as I have some postnatal drip and stuffy nose.
I am seeing another pulmonologist this Friday for a second look.

What are my chances this is cancer? My current pulmonologist said it is lowest on his list but wants to rule it out--believes it is likely an older fungal infection--your thoughts?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Cancer is extremely unlikely.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Cancer is extremely unlikely. So no need to worry for lung cancer. I don't know why he didn't comment on bronchoscopy and directly told to get done PET scan.
PET scan is basically for cancer.
Is this doctor a pulmonologist?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (24 minutes later)

He is. He said he wanted the PET to ensure nothing lit up and said if I have hot spots it could be indicative of an existing infection--is that true? He said it also rules out cancer.

I assume everything is good with my heart so this right now is mainly a lung issue. I'm not sure what the PFT will tell him. He said most times they never identify what the fungus is. He said if old infection then there really is no treatment but just follow up?
He didn't seem too concerned st this point but reading the CT to me is scary.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (55 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
What are your current symptoms?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, it it shows positive uptake on PET scan then possibility of active infection or cancer is more (more cancer).
If negative uptake means no light up areas then possibility of old healed lesions is more.
And yes, all these are for lungs, your heart is normal.
PET scan gives extreme radiation exposure. So I don't prefer it routinely unless Android until it is extremely needed.
I am still surprised why he is asking for PET first and not bronchoscopy.
Even if something is lighting up on PET, bronchoscopy is must to confirm the etiology.
May I ask you about your symptoms?
I mean what are your symptoms? Do you have weight loss, low grade fever, cough?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (27 minutes later)

I have no Fever or weight loss, but I do have some allergies now so I am coughing a little bit and have a stuffy nose.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No need to worry for cancer at all.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
So you are not having any worrisome symptoms.
So no need to worry for cancer at all.
Possibility of active infection from long time is also low.
Either you are having old healed lesions or recent active infection.
Do you have any previous chest x ray or CT scan of thorax?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

I have a 2014 chest X-ray that was deemed unremarkable. Never had a ct scan before. Is this quite serious, what I have? Can it spread to other organs?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No, this is not serious thing.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No, this is not serious infection. So don't afraid this much.
It will be controlled with medicines.
If you start treatment early, it won't spread to other organs.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar