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 Does A Hilar Region Ill Defined Patchy Opacity Mean?

Hello, My husband is suffering from pneumonia since 2012. He gets the infection often (every 6 months) and doctors put him under oral or iv antibiotics. As he is suffering from severe acid reflux doctors concluded that it could be aspiration pneumonia. Though we are taking utmost care he is getting sick. We are doing F/U regularly to rule out TB also. Few of the tests came positive but doctors dint put him under TB medication. Conducted bronchoscopty and CT scan two times. His latest chest x ray shows ill defined patchy opacity in right upper hilar region. What does this mean?Please help us.
Fri, 2 Jan 2015
Report Abuse
Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on HCM.
There are many causes for hilar opacity.
But common ones are
1. Non resolving pneumonia
2. Slowly resolving pneumonia
3. Resistant infection
4. Fungal or parasitic pneumonia.
5. Lymphadenopathy etc.
Possibility of resistant pneumonia is high.
Anaerobic bacterial infection is high in cases associated with GERD ( Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease ).
And routine culture does not show anaerobic bacteria. So we need to do anaerobic culture separately.
Fungal and parasitic pneumonia can also be the cause as rputine antibiotics does not cover them.
So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.
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


Loading Online Doctors....
What Does A Hilar Region Ill Defined Patchy Opacity Mean?

Thanks for your question on HCM. There are many causes for hilar opacity. But common ones are 1. Non resolving pneumonia 2. Slowly resolving pneumonia 3. Resistant infection 4. Fungal or parasitic pneumonia. 5. Lymphadenopathy etc. Possibility of resistant pneumonia is high. Anaerobic bacterial infection is high in cases associated with GERD ( Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease ). And routine culture does not show anaerobic bacteria. So we need to do anaerobic culture separately. Fungal and parasitic pneumonia can also be the cause as rputine antibiotics does not cover them. So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.