Atelectatic Bands

Good morning

Last night I attended at the ER with sharp back pain.  Because of a previous PE (they think it was PE in August 2003- diagnosed with VQ Scan but Spiral CT with Dye was clear - D-dimer only "slightly" off on initial diagnosis - was treated on Coumidan for 7 months).  The ER Dr. performed a Spiral CT which was clear but said that I had TINY Atelectatic Bands that were "Nothing to worry about" what the heck are these and what do they mean????

Thanks so much!

[National Jewish]

The ER doctor is right.  Tiny atelectatic bands are very small areas of the lung that are not fully expanded so they are getting less air.  They are nothing to worry about because they are so small.  Your sharp back pain, especially if it was worse with breathing, could cause this problem.  Also small scars from a past infection may look like atelectatic bands.

The most important thing was the determination that you did not have another pulmonary emboli (PE).  In truth, your description of the pain is more suggestive of a musculoskeletal problem.

[crcwhite]

A related discussion, post pneumonia pain with deep inhalation was started.