Interpretation Please!

[Betty2009]

Moderately course pulmonary scarring is noted in the right upper lobe with right lung apex most affected. Mild to moderate nodular type pleural thickening is also noted in the postero - lateral aspect of the right sided mid and bilateral midzones. Right upper lobe pulmonary scarring is dragging the trachea to the right of the midline as well as the superior vena cava and azygous vein. The horizontal fissure is slightly elevated. Minor pulmonary scarring in the medial aspect of the left upper zone is also present. A 6mm rounded nodule is noted in the left mid zone lying in the left lower lobe. No other discrete nodules are identified. No hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy is noted...

Blah! What? Please explain, thank you.. :-)

[Betty2009]

Thank you for all your help.

I have a PET Scan tomorrow (past history of cancer I guess) but I have to wait till July to see a lung specialist, unless my GP can pull any strings... :-)

[Corvin]

I don't know the specific illness you have but it's damage would fall under a class of disease called Interstitial Lung Disease, here's a link where you can read about it:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/interstitial-lung-disease/DS00592

Also your 6mm nodule in your left lower lobe may have to be monitored by follow up CT's, a nodule less than 10mm usually isn't a concern but they should image again in at least 6 months to see if it's still the same size, because benign nodules take a long time to grow, but if it showed growth in 6 months it could be either active granulamatous or cancerous and would require biopsy.

Have you already been seeing a Pulmonologist?

[Betty2009]

Thank you.. still a little confused.. i guess just frustrated from no diagnosis...

[Corvin]

Oh I forgot the scarring in your right lung is pulling your windpipe and the major vein that returns blood back to the heart and a smaller vein rightwards away from the center of your chest. (honestly I've never heard of this happening before)

[Corvin]

Hi Betty2009,

I'm not a radiologist but I'll give it a shot,here goes.

First it's important to know that the right lung is slightly larger and has three lobes,while the left lung to make room for the heart has only two lobes. Lobes are just sections of your lungs,the right lung think of it divided up into thirds. Nodules are non specific small clumps of cells and/or air that look different than the surrounding tissue. Pleural is a membrane that surrounds each lung,and pulmonary just means lungs. The horizontal fissure is a small divide between your upper and middle lobe of the right lung. Hilar means the part of the lungs where all the arteries,veins,and ducts enter the lungs,and mediastinal means the space between the lungs. Finally lymphadenopathy means enlargement of lymph glands,same things that get swollen in your neck,armpits,and groin when your sick,except here their talking about the ones in and around your lungs.

Basically there saying in your right lung you have somewhat rough scar tissue in the upper lobe,the worst being at the very top. Then on the back side in the middle of the right lung and across to each side the pleural membrane has mild to moderate clumps of cells/air. Then the space between the upper and middle lobe of the right lung is a little more than normal.  Then your left lung in the middle of the upper lobe has some mild scarring. Then in the middle of the lower lobe of the left lung you have a 6mm clump of cells/air. Finally they didn't see any enlargement of the lymph nodes in and between your lungs.

If your still confused repost or drop me a PM. Take Care