Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Your mother law is most having either
tuberculosis or
pneumonia in the past.
Her current x ray is showing old, healed, fibrotic lesions due to previous
lung infection.
Actually, almost all lung infections (tuberculosis or pneumonia) heal after treatment with following mechanism.
1. Fibrosis (most common).
2. Calcification
3. Rarely Complete resolution.
Since tb lesions are common in lung apices (upper lobes), there is fibrosis and adhesions seen in lung apices in current chest x ray.
Better to get done
ultrasound examination of thorax for confirmation of
pleural effusion because on chest x ray fresh effusion and old healed effusion look similar.
So get done ultrasound examination.
Overall her chest x ray is suggestive of old, fibrotic lesions.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your mother in law. Thanks.