HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Causes Suspicious Infiltrate On The Upper Lung?

Hi my sister, 25 years old had medical check up and they found fibroinfiltrate on both upper lung and middle left lung from the xray. My sister currently worked at country with high tb for one year. But she didn t have any symptomps when comeback. She went to doctor, check lab and her sputum, the results was high esr, sputum neg, the others normal. The doctor then diagnosed her as tb. I suggest her to do another xray and the result is clear left lung and suspicious infiltrate on upper right lung. She ask me is this really tb but I don t know. Can you help me?
Mon, 17 Nov 2014
Report Abuse
Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on HCM.
In my opinion it is PTB (Pulmonary Tuberculosis).
Since TB is airborne infectious disease any one can get the infection from TB patient. And 1 year stay in TB endemic area is sufficient enough to get infection.
Tb bacilli has high affinity for upper and middle lobes as oxygen tension is high in those area and TB Bacilli need oxumygen for growth. So any upper and middle lobe lung lesion should first be investigated for TB.
The tests done for this are
1. Sputum for AFB
2. Bronchoscopy and BAL(Broncho Alveolar Lavage) analysis for TB
3. CT THORAX
So if your sister's sputum report is negative you can still diagnose TB by doing Bronchoscopy with BAL analysis and CT THORAX.
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Tuberculosis


Loading Online Doctors....
What Causes Suspicious Infiltrate On The Upper Lung?

Thanks for your question on HCM. In my opinion it is PTB (Pulmonary Tuberculosis). Since TB is airborne infectious disease any one can get the infection from TB patient. And 1 year stay in TB endemic area is sufficient enough to get infection. Tb bacilli has high affinity for upper and middle lobes as oxygen tension is high in those area and TB Bacilli need oxumygen for growth. So any upper and middle lobe lung lesion should first be investigated for TB. The tests done for this are 1. Sputum for AFB 2. Bronchoscopy and BAL(Broncho Alveolar Lavage) analysis for TB 3. CT THORAX So if your sister s sputum report is negative you can still diagnose TB by doing Bronchoscopy with BAL analysis and CT THORAX.