I'm a 52 yo female who never smoked. I've been having symptoms of dry cough, shortness of breath on exertion for about 4 months. Cough is worse when I talk a lot, take in a big breath or laugh. I've had a CT scan and lung function test that showed the following. Can you help me understand what this means? Should I be getting a bronchoscopy?
CT Scan: Several areas of focal pleural thickening in the left hemithorax peripherally, Nonspecific.
Asymmetrical left upper lobe parenchymal disease along with a small 3.4 mm peripherally located nodule on the left warrant 6 month interval follow-up. No evidence of significant interstitial lung disease.
Lung function: The FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25-75% are reduced indicating airway obstruction. The FVC is reduced relative to the SVC indicating air trapping. The airway resistance is normal. While the TLC and RV are within normal limits, the FRC is reduced. Following administration of bronchodilators, there is no significant response. The reduced diffusing capacity indicates a mild loss of functional alveolar capillary surface. However the diffusing capacity was not corrected for patient’s hemoglobin.
Conclusions: Moderate partially reversible obstructive respiratory defect with moderate loss of whole lung units.