What do pleural nodes mean exactly?

[spastic]

Forgive me for copying and pasting this.  First off, hello everyone.  I have a question and I am so confused by what the radiologist said on my CT of the heart and lungs.  It said bilateral pleural nodes seen.  I am trying to remember this as I did not get the report. I have been searching and searching and all I come up with is pleural effusion, scar tissue, mesothelioma, cancer.  I know the pleural effusion is common with Stills, but could the nodes be a result of past pleural effusions or pleurisy?  I am utterly baffled by this.  Any ideas, anybody?  

Love to All,

Ada

[Rena705]

Hey girl...still sounds scary to me but you may be right...this could be scarring from the pleurisy that you have had in the past and nothing to worry about!  I am soooo glad...one scare from you in a week is quite enough honey...we know you are there and these attention grabbing tactics are quite enough...tee hee!

You know we love you and are always concerned about how you are making out and I am so glad that the pain is alleviated for you so that you can have some sort of life!  So when do you go back to see the dr. again?

Loves ya,

Rena

[spastic]

Ok, I got the report this morning and here is what it said:

Impression:
Pleural nodularity bilaterally

Discussion:
Scans of the chest were obtained from the lung apices through the diaphragms after the IV admin of Isovue.  Scans were obtained using the PE protocol.  No evidence of pulmonary emboli.  Pleural nodularity is noted posteriorly. No mass or consolidation can be identified. No mediastinal adenopathy or hilar of significance is seen.


Okay, well it doesn't sound too bad right?  It just sounded worse when you hear it and not when you see the report.  I am assuming the nodes are on the back side of my lungs and not on my derriere'. :)  I think I was worrying about nothing.

[sllowe]

Yea, I'd get that appt. lined up soon.  To at least put your mind at ease, not an easy thing to do.

Stay busy honey, that ought to help.   Keep the distractions up there!

SL

[spastic]

Thanks for the that.  I read it and added it to my favorites for quick reference.  Thank you for finding that for me.  

I think I deserve more of an explanation from the Dr about these, what do ya think?  Sounds kind of scary when the Dr on that forum said "There isn't a non-invasive way to determine the cause and nature of these nodules."  Maybe it is time to add a Lung Specialist to my list?  

Love to All,

Ada

[sllowe]

wow....I hit something and that posted before I had the chance to even finish reading it...yikes...not sure if it has a thorough definition or not...check it out

[sllowe]

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/RespiratoryDisorders/messages/680.html

[Fluffysmom]

Oh, you are so sweet to everyone else, how about you take it easy on yourself?!!! Everyone's allowed a moment of brain fog now and then.  :o)

Waiting for answers drives me buggy.  I had an EEG on May 27 and haven't received my results yet.  Arggghhhh!   Then I'll have to figure out what the results mean, then put on my battle gear and try to get a new brain MRI!

I'm glad you called and that they responded so quickly.

Kathy

[spastic]

Okay, I have been waiting anxiously by the phone all day yesterday and all morning and I finally couldn't take it anymore and called them back.  They put the report in the mail so I should receive it tommorrow or Friday.  Go figure, I should of told them to fax it to me.  Ugh, what was I thinking yesterday?  Spastic is going a little Spazie.....

Love to All,

Ada

[spastic]

Thanks Sunny, it makes sense reading your reply.  Crazy arthritis, funny what it does to your body....  Sorry to hear your Grandpa has RA, :(  I hope everything went ok with his surgery.  

BTW-I love your name Sunnytoday.  It is a great reminder to me to feel the sun shining today.

Thanks again for the info.  

Love,

Ada

[Sunnytoday]

Hi, my grandpa had rheumatoid arthritis and had pleural nodes, if I remember correctly. They were spots that the rheumatoid had "taken over" in the lungs and had hardened just like on his joints.

I'm having cog fog today, so I could be wrong, but he had a chest x-ray before his last surgery and I believe that's what the report said- at first they thought it was cancer until they had a doc. who understood that it was just his rheumatoid and really nothing to worry about too much, in his case they really couldn't do much but keep treating the rhematoid arthritis.

Best wishes... try not to worry too much!
~Sunnytoday~

[Rena705]

That is what I figure honey...the terminology just doesn't make sense and after I looked in Dorland's Medical terminology and didn't find it I think it might have been a terminology slip by the radiologist!  I am sure that your doc will call you and then you can clear it all up then...go water your columbine missus...get your mind off this for a while will ya! tee hee

love ya,

Rena

[spastic]

It is just bizarre, if it was absolutely nothing why would they remark on it?  I am still waiting for a call back!!!  It is crazy.....I tell ya.  Sometimes I think they don't know what they are saying.  I am guessing because I get pleurisy frequently that it is leaving scar tissue?  I was such an idiot yesterday, I always get my progress notes, labs, etc when I go for an appt.  What was I thinking?

I am thinking they maybe termed it wrong?  You would think with the world wide web there would be something coined that terminology.  I better just quit thinking about it, it has been like a sore spot in the back of my head all night and day.  I keep picking at it and getting nowhere. :)

Love Ya All,

Ada

[Rena705]

Geez ducky...this is ridiculous isn't it?  I have looked under nodes, pleural nodes, pleural, and on and on and on!!!  I looked in the Dorland medical dictionary and there is nothing like pleural nodes there either!  Is there any way that you could call the radiologists office and see if there is another word for what they are trying to say?  I know you have a call into the doc but I wonder if the doc knows what this radiologist means.  I am going to keep on looking for you but so far no luck...let me know if you hear anything ok?

Love ya,

Rena

[Momzilla]

I am baffled, too.  I wish I knew how to answer.  I just wanted to send a hug and tell you someone will be along with more knowledge for you.  If not, we'll investigate with you!

Feel well,

Zilla*