Need Clarification

[mich143]

I went for a CT scan of my neck because I have been feeling tightness. The results were 3 pages long including some enlarged lymph nodes around my thyroid and a 3mm nodule in my lung. I am very nervous about the nodule as my father died of lung cancer less than a year ago. i am 40 years old and recently quit smoking. How worried should I be? I went for a CT scan of the chest and am awaiting results.

[mich143]

thanks-
So are you saying i should be comfortable with the second report that my lungs are clear? Should I seek a 3rd opinion?
I have an appt. with my ENT on Saturday to discuss the nodules found around my thyroid.
Thx for your help.

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

The CT scan is evaluated using multiple “slices”. To prove that there is a lump, the lump would be seen in more than a single film.

The neck CT only has partial images of the lung (involving only the lung near the neck) hence a full CT would be better able to detect abnormalities as anything suspicious could be followed thorugh with contiguous plates or slices.

Another explanation is that, there was only a temporary problem with your lung and it has resolved before the next CT was taken.

Stay positive.

[mich143]

Hi.
I got my results from the ultrasound of my thyroid and my lung ct scan. the lung ct scan came out totally clear; no nodules, no scarring. My Dr. was happy with the results. My only concern is how could two reports be totally opposite. The ct scan of my neck said there was a 3mm nodule in the lung and some scarring. How can the other report of the ct scan of the chest say everything is clear. Should i still be concerned?
The ultrasound of the thyroid showed nodules around the thyroid. What could this mean?
I don't have any past medical conditions, never had pneumonia, never even had any kind of surgery; have perfect blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. I have an appt. of an ENT on Saturday to discuss the thyroid report.

Thanks

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

I’m not sure what he meant by injections in the muscle for a problem in the spine. Offhand the only treatment I could think of maybe medications that would improve bone density. Osteoporosis may also present with pain, but if the problem was in the joint (arthritis), then this may not be what he was talking about.

If there are new lymph nodes along the neck, it is also possible that a new lung CT scan may show some new nodes as well. The pattern would likely be symmetric, which is very atypical for lung cancer (which generally has a dominant mass, and the lymph node distribution is in accordance with drainage routes from the dominant mass). Hence, there is a good chance that something may be found, the pattern would likely resemble the pattern in the neck as well.
Finding the inciting cause would require a thorough investigation of any past medical conditions, exposures via travel or workplace.

Stay positive.

[mich143]

Thanks. I have an appt. tomorrow to discuss the results of the chest ct scan.
I did go to an ENT last wednesday; he didn't seem to think all the enlarged lymph nodes were a reason for concern. he stuck a camera down my nose to look into my throat, but didn't see anything. The report also stated I had arthritus in my upper spine; he thought that could be a reason of the tightness I feel in my neck. he suggested injections into the muscle???
The reports also stated scarring in the upper lobes of the lungs; what would that be from?
It just seems like there is so many areas to look into from one ct scan of the neck.
I did go for a heart and lung scan last September (I was nervous after what happened to my dad). It cost me $1000.00 for piece of my. the scan came out clear. What are the chances of something popping up since September?
Thanks

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

It would be best to discuss the results with your doctor who requested the examination.

If this is a CT of the neck only, then among the considerations would be cancers of the nodes themselves, of structures near the thyroid rather than the thyroid itself (as most cancers of the thyroid tend to present with disease confined within the thyroid in majority of cases) which could be in the voice box. Other things to think about would be infections and irritant exposure causing reactive large lymph nodes.

It may be a good idea to do a scan of the entire lung as well. The 3 mm nodule would be along the top (near the neck) lung segments. This is quite small and would more likely be benign, and the location make consideration for healed tuberculosis. However, you may need to see the entire lung fields to better assess things.

Stay positive.