I NEED HELP

CT REPORT CAME BACK AND DR IS OUT OF TOWN AND I CANT GET INTO SEE HIM FOR 2 WEEKS.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS REPORT

IT SAYS
SOFT TISSUE PROMINENCE SEEN ALONG THE RIGHT MEDIALSTADUM AND RIGHT PERITRACHEAL REGION COULD REPRESENT ADENOPATHY OR ABNORMALITY. A FEW STREAKY AREAS OF POSSIBLE ATELECTISIS SEEN. THERE IS SOME OPACITY IN THE RETROSTERNAL REGION AS WELL AS A FEW ADDITIONAL DENSITIES ELSEWHERE, ANY OF THESE COULD BE RELATED TO SUBTLE PULMONARY NODULES. THERE DOES APPEAR TO BE SOME PLURAL THICKENING ALONG THE LATERAL CHEST WALL BILATERALLY.

EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS COULD MEAN
THANK YOU

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

The report indicates that there may be something growing in the mediastinum (the area of the heart). The atelectasis means that some parts of the lung may be collapsing. The presence of the atelectasis may indicate that whatever is growing is also compressing on the airways. The fact that the atelectasis is uncertain means that there may not be any significant symptoms, it may also mean the atelectasis is not present at all. The possibilities here as to what is growing depends on what area of the mediastinum is involved, this may represent a mass (not necessarily cancer) from thymus, lymph nodes, nerves, or lung. Stay positive.

[MGR1967]

so if something is growing near my heart is that and operatable or inoperatable area,
i am goin monday for endoscope to check out a 2cm nodule in my esophogus, could that be what they are talking about? or is this something different. what about the opacities they see, what are they?

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

The nodule in the esophagus would be something to investigate. However, the findings in the scan do not pertain to the esophagus, but to structures located anatomically in front of the esophagus. While it is possible that there may be a relationship, the esophagus would be more accessible so it is reasonable to begin the investigation there. The opacities in the retrosternal region may be more nodes, this area is actually in front of the heart, right behind the central bone on the chest (called the sternum, hence retrosternal, behind the sternum). Hence, it is rather far from the esophagus (which is behind the heart and the main pipes of the lung. Stay positive.

[MGR1967]

WHAT ARE OPACITIES USUALLY IN A SCAN, I MEAN IS IS BROWTHS,SHADOWING,TUMORS,ETC?

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

An opacity is usually either soft tissue or bone. Looking at the location, it is likely a lymph node as well. The nature of the lymph node is the question. It could be malignant, it could be a benign growth, it could be an inflammatory response to a self-limited infection, or it could be a response associated with a general immune mediated disease. At the end of it, the doctor would link all this information to narrow down what should be searched. Tumors in the heart are very rare.