Abn chest x-ray

Hi. I'm a 45 yr female with CXR 9 months ago with bi-apical pleural scarring with interstitial prominence. HX familial IPF father and aunt. Recent CXR with 1cm nodule left upper lung. Previous CT negative. Would nodule be related to scarring? Should I be concerned? Are CXR sometimes overread? I do not and never have smoked. I do not have any pulmonary symptoms. Is another CT needed? I know that my two CXR were not compared should they be?

[National Jewish]

The bi-apical scarring is a common finding and generally is not a sign of any progressive disease.  However, with your family history, both these changes and the nodule could be signs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).  Yes, x-rays can be over-read and under-read.  This is a good reason to ask for comparison of your 2 chest x-rays.  You note a previous CT scan to have been negative and ask if another should be done.  The answer is yes, if the previous scan was done more than a year ago.  The initial CT scan is very re-assuring.

You should request that a pulmonary radiologist review all your films, including the CT.

Your decision not to smoke is a very important one.  You should have complete pulmonary function tests (PFTs) performed now.  This will serve both to screen for existent disease and as a baseline for comparison with repeat PFTs in the future.

[worried 2]

Hi Doc (nurse?)

Sorry, I realize it wasn't "my turn" to ask a question, but a simple "yes you should be worried"  or "no you shouldn't worry" would suffice.   PLEASE.   Again, sorry, but thank you for listening.

From what it sounds Maybe I have a similar situation to this poster, I don't know.

Recently I had a Cervical Spine MRI and just by chance you can see this funny little white mass in my upper lung (here's a good scan of the MRI in question):

http://www.angelfire.com/ab9/alpha123011010/album/MRI_lung.jpg


Although the radiologists' report did not mention this, should I assume that if it were anything to worry about, he would have reported it even though the MRI was technically for my C-spine?