Need help understanding CT report

[sportzmom]

Hi - I am a 46 yo female, smoke 1/2 pack a day for about 3 years now, smoked 1 pack + for about 20 years before that. Healthy except for usual allergies, live in New Jersey, slight asthma, don't use an inhaler & never had an attack, use Advair when I get a cold. Had FESS (endoscopic sinus surgery)  end of January, everything went fine until coming out of anetheszia and felt a bad tightness in my chest & difficulty breathing. Had an breathing treament. Ekg and chest x-ray came out ok. They thought it might be blood clot so had a CT w/contrast to rule out pulmonary embolism, which it did. Never did find out what the cause was, was told to get a stress test. Also to get a follow-up CT. But what worries me is the CT report which I just got yesterday. Sections of the report include the following: "scattered subcentimeter pulmonary nodules, mild dependent atelectatic changes noted at lung bases bilaterally, 5mm area of lucency within left lower lobe which may represent a small pneumatocele or emphysematous change, atherosclerotic changes are seen within the aorta, degenerative changes within thoracic spine with mutilevel Schmorl's nodes". This all sounds so bad!!! Am I reading too much into it? Help!

[National Jewish]

This CT report is not worrisome.  You will probably never know the cause of the, "bad tightness in my chest & difficulty breathing."  With a clot to the lungs ruled out and no prior history to suggest coronary artery disease, it is unlikely that the pain was from a heart problem.
You should discuss the arguments for and against a stress test, with your doctor.  Without any prior symptoms that suggest heart disease, this is unlikely to be a heart problem, especially if there is no history of coronary artery disease, no predisposing factors such as hyperlipidemia and if your EKG is now normal.  You need to ask your doctor how bad the "atherosclerotic changes in the aorta” are.  If excessive, this would be a reason to have a complete cardiovascular evaluation.
"Sub-centimeter nodules" are almost always benign and of no significance.  The changes described as emphysema are probably of no functional significance, at this time.  That they exist at all, however, is a warning that your lungs are sensitive to cigarette smoke and a warning that you should stop smoking now and never smoke again.  
At this time quitting smoking is the most important thing that you can do for yourself!  You may want to look at our Quit Smoking Topic Center at http://www.nationaljewish.org/topic/smoking_cessation.html for ways to help you become smoke free.  Also check with your doctor for other quit smoking resources in your area.

[Samuel Benjamin]

Hello, I am a smoker of many years. I am now 63 yearls old and returning to school to change my profession. I have been a RN, a volunteer and a wife and parent. I am quite fortunate to have good health except for High blood pressure which is under control with one medicine. I walk each day at least 2 miles. My weight is good. My relationships with my husband and children is great. I have been married to Lee for 35 years and we have 7 children who are doing good. I do have a chronic cough but I have had two sinus surgs. The doctor thought that maybe the cough was from one of my medicines so I have been off it and my cough is not so intense. I have had a chest x-ray each year for many years. This is the first time after a chect x-ray that a CT scan was ordered. I just had a CT scan. Impression: 1. There are 4 small, nodular densities noted in the right lung. The largest of these measures 5x7 mm in size & is located in the superior aspect of the right lower postermedially. These nodulars densities do not demonstrate any calcifications. They are too small to definitively charaterize. What do they mean by characterize?
Follow up CT scan in 3 mths recommended for further evaluation and to assess for any interval change.
Does having the nodulars say I have the start of lung cancer?
What does this impression mean? I am overwhelemed and terrified with the prospect of cancer of the lungs. Do you think I should see a doctor who specializes in lung problems? Do you think I should have a pet scan? I am all confused as what to do? My family doctor says I do not have lung cancer and to wait for 3 mths have CT scan again. I cannot get him to explain what is happening to me with what was found on the CT scan. I am going to revisit him and try to find out more.

How can you help me? I feel so alone since I will not tell my husband or family or friends about what I am going through.
I am trying to stop smoking but so far I have failed at any attempt.I do want to stop but I do not.



I do know I can can relate each day my greatest counselor Jesus.
Thanks so much for listening to me, Tammy Roberts