PTB Minimal

I recently had a chest x-ray for a pre-employment physical. The results stated that "there are nodulohazed infiltration in left lung field" and an impression "PTB mimimal, left". I had a previous radiogragh result and suggested that " to have a apicolordotic view"? what does it mean? What is Nodulohazed infiltration, PTB minimal, and apicolordotic view mean?

[Corvin]

Hi madonna_star, Welcome to MedHelp.

It's best to ask your physician, but nodulhazed infiltration just basically means small collections of cells/pus/air that are usually the result of an infection/inflammatory process. PTB minimal means their is minimal evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Apicolordotic view is just taking an x- ray of your lungs from the back and/or from above to get a better view of the infiltrates.

I won't be concerned about malignancy, cancerous nodules are usually large like 1cm and bigger. The higher densities they are seeing now may even clear up if you have/had a recent chest infection.

I think they are mainly trying to screen you for active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Take care

[madonna_star]

What are the possible cure on this? Or how  should I prevent this to avoid leading to PTB?

[Corvin]

What are the possible cures for this? I can't really speculate not knowing your symptoms or lack of symptoms. If your not having any symptoms of chest infection, then it is probably left over immune cells, pus, fluid from a previous infection. Which could have been from any pathogen that overpopulated in the lungs causing bronchitis or pneumonia.

How can I avoid this from leading to PTB? Tuberculosis is caused by a specific bacteria, ways to find out if you have active TB would be a tuberculin skin test, and/or testing of tuberculin antibodies in your blood. To avoid PTB would be to avoid anything that weakens your immune system, like unmanaged diabetes, pregnancy, taking immune supressant medications, abusing alchohol or drugs, and becoming infected with HIV.

So another words it won't lead to PTB if you aren't already infected with the bacteria that causes PTB, and/or have become immune supressed somehow.

Does this make any sense? Repost if you can detail your symptoms or lack their of, or need more info.

[madonna_star]

Last October 2007, my  x-ray result is definitely fine!    

Findings: Both lungs are clear.
              Heart is not enlarged.
              Diaphragm and sulci are intact.
Impression: Essentially Normal Chest

I have to stopped my job due to my pregnancy last July 9, 2008. I don't feel any symptoms on my chest or feel any bad in my health. I don't smoke or anything that might causes infections to my health especially in my lungs. after giving birth on my first baby, and starts my job again, my x-ray results the following findings.


Based on my xray result dated October 23, 2008 it states that:

Findings: Suspicious densities at the left upper lung field.
              Heart is not enlarged.
              Diaphragm and sulci are intact.
Impression: Apicolordotic View

Then, my physician suggested to have a second x-ray examination. After two days, I've undergone to another second examination and resulted to this:

Based on my xray result dated October 25, 2008 it states that:
Findings: Apicolordotic view show ill define infiltrates at the left upper lung field.
              Heart is not enlarged.
              Diaphragm and sulci are intact.
Impression: Pnueminitis, left koch's etiology not ruled out

And presently, based on my xray result dated April 28, 2009 it states that:

Findings: There are nodulohazed infiltrates at the left upper lung field.
               Heart is not enlarged.
               Diaphragm and sulci are intact.
Impression: PTB Minimal, Left

Can you please help me on this!!!!!!!!!!

[Corvin]

Did your physician recommend any further testing? like a tuberculin skin test

                        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantoux_test

[madonna_star]

No! My phycisian did not recommend anything. What do you think about my case?

[Corvin]

It could also be something your breathing at work, do you work in any type of manufacuring where there is dust from certain metals?

Or are you exposed to any kind of mold?

Do you have anyone who lives or works with you that is sick?

TB is sort of an epedemic in the Philippines do you get the BBC vaccine when your a little kid in your country?

Basically if your not short of breath, have chest pain, coughing, fever, malaise, or anything I wouldn't be concerned about TB. It is possible while you where pregnant and your immune system was down just enough for some type of pathogen to multiply in your lung, but your immune system must have taken care of it and you never even really noticed it. What they're seeing on your x-ray is just some cells/pus/fluid it doesn't mean any damage has been done to your lungs, and on a follow up x-ray I would almost bet the infiltrates will be gone.

The thing about tuberculosis is many healthy people carry a latent infection of TB but they don't actually get sick unless they become immune supressed and the TB bacteria finds it's way past the person's immune system. You being pregnant could have opened the door, but TB when it becomes an active infection would make you very sick, so even though you may technically carry the TB bacteria, I don't think you have an active infection.

Do you get TB booster shoots in the Phillippines every 10 years or so, I guess I have no idea?

[Corvin]

Also myself I would just go and have a chest CT with contrast...to get a better picture of the stuff, regular radio x-rays all you really see is a bunch of ill defined cloudy junk!?.

I think it is suspicious enough that these weren't there in 2007, but have been there for the last six months, to just go ahead and have a CT. If that is something that is available to you, and you have insurance. I don't know what kind of health care they have in the Phillippines?

[madonna_star]

Thanks for all the advises. It helps me a lot. Godbless.

[Corvin]

Oopps, I meant the BCG vaccine. (dang acronyms)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_Calmette-Guerin

I still think it's just immune debris, and the lymphatics and stuff take their sweet time cleaning it out (unless you become symptomatic). Just keep your lungs clear otherwise, watch what you breath in, ask if you should get any booster shots, and don't get immune suppressed, and you shouldn't have anything to worry about. But if you want to do the CT and your doctor thinks it's alright, then it will give a pretty detailed picture of your lungs.

If you become pregnant again, take your vitimins and stay away from sick people, and wash your hands a lot, and don't touch your face, or eat without washing your hands first. Well and this is stuff a person should always do whether your immune suppressed or not. People shouldn't become total germaphob's either, because the immune system still needs challenges to stay strong, it's like everything, moderation, and staying away from the bad stuff.

Oh and of coarse babies are immune suppressed also in their first two years, so keeping them away from sick people in the first two years is important too. But after that their immune systems will start to develop all the antibodies they need, but still get them whatever vaccines their doctor reccomends.

K, now I'm starting to babble, so take care, and congratulations on your new baby!

[worriedme310]

Hi! I just had my Xray and the result says: "PTB MINMAL, UNDERTERMINED ACTIVITY"... I am willing to undergo the 2-6 months treatment but I still feel so depressed... How will I not spread the bacteria here in the house as everyone's xray results say NORMAL? Help.. :(

[Corvin]

I would ignore my ignorance of latent tuberculosis in this thread, it's kind of funny to read this now. I hope madonna got a mantoux test and prophylaxis if she needed it.

Any who, Hi :), first you'll have to determine the "activity"(latent vs. active), that's done primarily by mantoux test(or blood assays) and sputum staining(acid fast bacillus) but also correlated with symptoms, x-ray, and TB history. If sputum's negative your not considered contagious, but could still be infected(latent). If sputum's positive you have active TB and there are quarantine protocols for 2-4 weeks until it is negative. If you're sputum is positive everyone you come into contact with on a regular basis should be tested for TB. If you have a positive mantoux but negative sputum more than likely you have latent TB. If both are negative then you more than likely have scarring from or presently have a non TB infection(pneumonia).

If you have latent TB it's still helpful to try to track the source although this usually isn't practical because huge amounts of time pass from initial exposure but people you spent a lot of time in close proximity that you're in contact with can be tested.TB isn't as casually transmitted from person to person like a virus you usually have to spend hours and hours in close proximity with the person like at work, school, or at home, that's why in endemic areas employers and institutions are sticklers about screening. I guess the important thing is to know the difference between latent and active TB. Take care

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latent_tuberculosis

[jomar498]

hi can ask something ??

[poldo]

undertermaine activity to have minimal ptb? what are those means can i effected to my girlfriend

[chris072710]

i have the same problem like you...