Abnormal Chest Xray

Hi
I am a 32 yr old female with no smoking history. I have no known health problems. This past Monday I was diagnosed with pneumonia by chest xray and symptoms of fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, body aches and sent home with antibiotics and bed rest. The Xray was then sent to radiology to be formally read.

On Wednesday, the clinic called and said that the radiologist wanted me to have a CT of my chest b/c he felt that there were abnormal areas which he wanted to rule out metastatic disease. Now mind you the only symptom given to him was cough. This of course really scared me b/c I have no known cancer past or present.
I went for the CT scan Thursday and results say this:
There are multifocal air space opacities within the right upper lobe. A focal air space opacity is seen within the peripheral left upper lung, extending to the pleura. There is a tiny 3mm nodule within the laternal left lobe. No pleural effuion or pericardial effusion. No adenopathy idenitifed.

Under the impressions section it does state that findings are probably post infectious or post inflammatory with a follow up CT in 10-12 weeks following treatment of pneumonia to rule out underling mass.

I have never had a chest xray prior to this so I have nothing to compare to, but now they have me worried that there is cancer growing in some other area and I don't know it. I friend told me they should have done bloodwork before even saying cancer because there is a way to determine if cancer is present with blood levels. Any ideas?? I am going crazy worrying and I have to wait until February.

[National Jewish]

It is easy to understand your concern.  The most likely reason for these findings is the infection.  However, to be sure, a repeat CT scan is a reasonable approach. Densities in your lung can be the result of the infection or masses. It is difficult to tell the difference with an CT scan.  This needs a time period to get past the infection to see if the masses are still present.  Blood tests could have been performed, but are not very specific for this.  Although it is likely you will be concerned until the next tests, that is still the best course of action right now.

[Mis32]

By the way, I am getting better with the meds and had no prior problems before the pneumonia diagnosis.

Thanks for any help or ideas

[pjrocks]

My son had no prior problems until he was dianoised with Pneunomia in Oct 06.  We have been on atti biotics and can see an improvement.  still didn't feel right about the whole situation..  8 x-rays later he has a collasped right middle lobe that can only be seen on a lateral x-ray.  Doctors wer only concerned about the frontal x-rays.  jan 22 07 finally a pulmanoligst agrees to see us and tests for CF are beeing conducted ( 6 yrs old boy)  The primary tests look good... but there are 1300 CF genes and the primary test only tests for 25 mutent genes.  Some thing is making my child sick and I'm not willing to quit until I know wether the doctors think so or not.  look into Right Middle Lobe Syndrome that is what send the other tests in motion for our family hope this helps.