Spot on the lung

[dpillai]

Hi,
Not sure whether the topic area is correct, sorry about that. I was just told by a doctor's assitant that my CT scan results showed a spot on my lung.This after 4 weeks after having taken the scan. Now, going through the net I understand that this could be anything from a scar tissue to lung cancer.Just for my information is there any kind symptoms or something that could tell these extremeties apart and what %ages of these spots usually end up as cancer? I have never smoked in my life, I am not coughing, no breathing problems what so ever, in fact pretty healthy 6 feet tall 190lbs male. Any kind of information is most welcome.
Thanx in advance.

[National Jewish]

The absence of symptoms does not give any clues about the cause.  In a non-smoker the odds of this being a cancer are low.  They are even lower since you are not having symptoms and are under the age 40.  The best clues about the nature of this spot are size, shape, and density.  The doctor who interprets the CT scan should be able to give you and your doctor an indication of what this spot is most likely to be.  Sometimes this is not possible.  Then the only choice is to remove the spot.  You should discuss this with a pulmonary specialist.

Finally, if you have ever had a chest x-ray taken in the past, try to find it and give it to the radiologist for comparison with your recent x-ray and CT scan.

[dpillai]

Also, wanted to add this piece of information. I have been Arizona for last 1 year. Desperate to gain some insight into this I happen to chance on a site which said that the spot on the lung could also be due "valley fever" usually found in arizona and neighbouring regions.

[blondeviolin1]

If you don't mind me asking, why the CT if you have no troubles?  

[dpillai]

Well, the first X-ray showed some thickness in my upper lung, so I was referred to a pulmonologist who was the opinion that its not TB but wanted a CT scan to ensure this.

[abdullah]

the causes of a spot in the lung can be divided in to infectious vs. non-infectious. the age ( >40), somking, other cancers in the body make it likely to be malignant. in general around 60% of lung nodules are benign, and this rate goes uo to 90-95% if the person lived in an area of fungal infection (coccidio in arizona). the size of the nodule and findings in CT chest will guide the probability based on the patient history, but almost all of lung nodules have no symptoms unless they are compressing an airway. the pleural thickining in your case and this spot which is likely a granuloma could indicate an infection as a cause like TB (still possible and you need to have tuberculin test), coccidiodiomycosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis. in general review the details of your history, the CT findings especially the size of the nodule, calcified or not, the surface of the nodule, the margin of the nodule will help in better definition of your case but being in arizona cocciodiodiomycosis is probable cause and TB needs to excluded.

[Jane1]

Hi Dp

spots could be from scars from a previous illness, perhaps a pneumonia that went by without too much hassle, or if you were asthmatic?  It could also be sarcoidosis, a granuloma that is non malignant. Sometimes sarcoid has no symptoms, just shows up on x-rays, other times the symptoms could be unrelated to shortness of breath but fatique, cold chills, a general feeling of malaise.  The problem is if the radiologist is concerned he or she may want a biopsy to rule out anything sinister, a needle biopsy is not too invasive and is usually carried out in day care.  However if you are feeling well, and with you age and you non smoking history maybe just monitoring, breathing tests and a follow up x-ray in six months would suffice.  Was it just a routine x-ray that alerted the docs to the scar? or were you feeling unwell prior to that - I have sarcoid - my symptoms were'nt related to breathing at all, just bad migraines, loss of feeling and numbness in the extremities, shivers and cold sweats and overall just tiredness - a routine x-ray showed a spot - the radiologist wouldn't let is go - because I smoked then I had a PA X Ray - A CT scan and eventually a needle biopsy - thankfully now a year later after being diagnosed with sarcoid, my x-ray's are clear - I was given no medication.

Regards
J

[edda]

hi in february 2004 my husband had three lung clots.  since then he has had two cat scans and the last one, we found out today showed a spot on his lung.  the doctor we seen today said it was small, and not to get worried about it.  but that is very easy to say and yet so very hard to do.  my husband has previously had a clot about 3 years ago and this time the pain in his chest is not going away.  the specialist that we seen today said the spot was not a nother clot, and was small and could be cancer but didn't look like cancer.  i am terribly worried any information or help with this would be great, i am striving for calmness but having a hard time.  he is a smoker and 63 years old.  the doctor said this spot might have been there before but the cat scan may not have picked up on it, and after this last cat scan he was sent for an x ray and that is what picked up on the spot.  none of this makes since to me.  someone please help

[gregav]

I'm a non-smoker, 57 years old and a year ago, my doctor found a "fuzzy area" in the upper part of one lung.  They decided to monitor it.  I had a bronchoscopy without a biopsy, but still found no cause.  A few weeks ago, an xray turned up another "fuzzy area" in the lower part of the same lung.  I've had a cough for some time that is positional.  Bending over or lying on my left side.  I've occasionally had some shortness of breath and I have a rattle sound when I exhale that seems to have become more pronounced.  No other symptoms like fever, etc.  I'm having another bronchoscopy tomorrow and they will do a biopsy.  I also lived in Southern California for 6 years.  The doctor had a cocciodiomycosys test done last year and it was negative.  I know I don't have a lot of the lung cancer risk history, but I'm very nervous about this.  Anyone have any thoughts?

[gregav]

I'm a non-smoker, 57 years old and a year ago, my doctor found a "fuzzy area" in the upper part of one lung.  They decided to monitor it.  I had a bronchoscopy without a biopsy, but still found no cause.  A few weeks ago, an xray turned up another "fuzzy area" in the lower part of the same lung.  I've had a cough for some time that is positional.  Bending over or lying on my left side.  I've occasionally had some shortness of breath and I have a rattle sound when I exhale that seems to have become more pronounced.  No other symptoms like fever, etc.  I'm having another bronchoscopy tomorrow and they will do a biopsy.  I also lived in Southern California for 6 years.  The doctor had a cocciodiomycosys test done last year and it was negative.  I know I don't have a lot of the lung cancer risk history, but I'm very nervous about this.  Anyone have any thoughts?

[curly1121]

A related discussion, lung fungus was started.