What Does This Chest X-ray Report Indicate?
12/14/16
Cardiac silhouette is within normal limits; increase interstitial markings in both bases bilaterally compared to previous chest x-ray October 20 2015; lung fields are without evidence for acute infiltrate or pulmonary vascular congestion. Overread requested
It needs further evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to health care magic! Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible.
Based on the history you have shared, both Xray findings have some difference which can be a normal variant or associated with some pathology. For example if amount of fluid in lungs increase due to mutplile reasons like high blood pressures, or due to cardiac reasons it can impart such changes temporarily but clears off and are completely reversible. However other causes like interstitial fibrosis may be irreversible.
Here the history is most important. If you are having progressive shortness of breath or cough or weight loss, it needs to be evaluated further by a chest Xray after a week or two and if needed HRCT scan, chest may be needed. If fever or cough with sputum is experienced it may refer to infective cause like pneumonitis or interstitial pneumonia.
These findings are not only history dependant but a careful chest examination by a physician or a pulmonologist is mandatory to correlate the findings with investigations as findings like crepitations and it's type and nature are enough to narrow down the diagnosis by a specialist doctor.
Hope this has answered your query, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Regards.
Lungs are showing emphysematous changes
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Thanks for sharing the details. The report is showing emphysematous changes with suspected basal interstitial fibrosis. A HRCT chest is most likely next step to proceed. In abscene of symptoms like wheeze or shortness if breath, no acute step is needed for management. Regards.