Explanation of test results...

[Confused1960]

Please Help Explain test results.... I was having mild pain in my upper chest area and across my
upper shoulder area. DR.sent me for a chest X-ray, 2 weeks later I go
back for a follow up, and he says the X-ray was normal,"just showed
scarring on my right lung" I asked where the scarring could have come
from
and he told me from an old infection. I had a chest x-ray in Nov. and
it was clear, he said it depended on who reads them.. I still had the
same pain, so he sent me for a stress test for my heart, That was
normal.
2 weeks later I go again for a follow up (after a surgery for
Endrometreosis that kicked my lungs butt,) Again same pain, Again I question the findings on the
chest X-ray.. He sends me for a CT scan of the Chest
W/contrast.I went on the 1st of March.On the 7th I go to the Imaging
and ask for
my records, The CT scan, says and I quote...."There are mild to moderate
bullous Emphysematous changes about the lung apices, more prominenet on
the right side that the left. there is slight nodularity along the
posterior pleural surface of the right upper lobe, extending toward the
right apex, at the level of the posterior segment of the right upper
lobe.
There are minimal sites of parenchymal scarring in the region of the
inferior lingular and right middle lobe. there is probable minimal
platelike atelectasis perhaps admixed with dependent pulmonary blood
flow posteriorly at the level of the posterior cosrophrenic sulci" Could some one PLEASE explain these results, can't get an appt with a Pulmpnary Dr for 3 weeks!!!!

[National Jewish]

The CT scan shows some emphysema, a sign of COPD, usually caused by cigarette smoking.  This does not cause pain.  The other described CT changes of scarring are most likely secondary to infection that might have occurred years ago. The 'platelike atelectasis' is most likely of no consequence. The 'nodularity along the pleural surface'' could be a form of old scarring or a sign of more recent disease.  Diseases that involve the pleura can cause pain.  The nature of these nodules will have to be determined by the pulmonologist and might require a biopsy of the pleura.  There is no way to know the nature of the nodules from the CT description.

The November chest X-ray and all prior chest X-rays should be obtained and reviewed by the current radiologist and compared with the recent chest-Xray and CT scan.

Good luck.