PTB Minimal

I am a 23 year old and had a child. I recently had a chest x-ray for a pre-employment physical. The results stated that "there are nodulohazed infiltrates at upper left lung field"and suggested to have a PTB minimal,left. I had a previous radiogragh result and suggested to have a apicolordotic view. What are those things? Should I be worried?

[National Jewish Health]

What you describe are findings suggestive of a prior tuberculosis (TB) infection of your lung.  These are scars from a TB infection that you could have had, without knowing it, anytime in your life.  These typical findings of a prior TB infection, one that was controlled by your body’s defenses and rendered inactive, are commonly seen in this part of the lung (apical) on routine x-rays.  They are often better visualized when the x-ray is taken from a different angle, called apical lordotic.

Each state has its own TB control office, a division of state government.  I suggest that you contact them for advice on preventive therapy.  One of the criteria for such therapy is:  People with a positive tuberculin skin test (>5 mm) with an abnormal chest x-ray that shows fibrotic lesions that most likely represent old healed tuberculosis.  In addition to the tuberculin skin test, more recently developed blood tests are also now readily available and one of these might be recommended to you.  If so, you should agree to being tested.

The state TB control office can refer you to a physician, familiar with and experienced in the management of suspected TB.  You can also go to the following website http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/tboffices.htm for further information about the diagnosis and treatment of TB.

Based on your description, neither you nor your child is in immediate danger but it would be best for you to seek resolution of this problem in the near future.

Good luck.