Spot on lung

[Mare125]

I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in March of 2006.  Had full hysterectomy and pathology tests came back stage 1A.  I was very lucky that it was caught so early and I required no treatment.  I have follow-up CT scans every 6 months.  My last CT scan showed a spot on the lung that has grown since the previous CT scan 6 months prior.  I saw a pulmonary doctor and he is not sure what it is but started me on a high dose of antibiotics in case it is pneumonia.  I am scheduled for another CT scan in 6 weeks to see if the spot decreases or goes away.  If not, we have to consider that it may be cancer.  I am very doubtful that it is pneumonia because I have no symptoms and have not even had a cold in the last year.  Has anyone had pneumonia with no symptoms or similar CT scans?

[Mare125]

I have heard that recurrance of ovarian cancer would normally involve the abdomin first.  Hopefully the antibiotics will decrease the size of the spot on the lung but what scares me is that I have absolutely no symptoms of pneumonia which is what the doctor is treating me for.  I'm not sure what the risk factors are for TB but I will look them up.  Thanks for your reply.

[Kamal S Saini, MD, MRCP (UK), DM]

Hi,
You have a fully treated Stage 1A ovarian cancer, and on a routine follow-up CT scan, some lung lesion was picked up.
The normal pattern of recurrence of ovarian cancer suggests that the first sites to be involved are the pelvic and abdominal organs. It is unusual for recurrent ovarian cancer to involve the lung without first spreading in the abdomen.
However, the fact that the lung lesion has increased in size over the past 6 months should prompt a detailed investigation. If it still persists after the course of antibiotics, then maybe your doctor will suggest a bronchoscopy or an aspiration cytology test.
By the way, do you have any risk factors for TB?