chest x-ray

My husband was diagnosed last weekend with Pneumonia at our local Urgent Care.  X-rays were taken.  3 days later the radiologist calls and says there is a "mass" on his lung.  He was given strong antibiotics at urgent care and he is getting better everyday.  Could it be the mass was pneumonia.  He just had a physical a month ago and bloodwork, urine test (for insurance) 2 weeks ago.  The dr. has ordered a ct scan.  I am so nervous I can't sleep.

[National Jewish Health]

That is very good news that your husband is having a speedy recovery from the pneumonia.  The X-ray shadow of pneumonia can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from a “mass”.  That is, especially as the pneumonia resolves, the resolving pneumonia may have the appearance of a mass.  The key question would be the certainty of the radiologist that he/she has visualized a mass. You might want to ask the radiologist or your husband’s doctor about that degree of certainty.   In any event, the question of there being a mass will be resolved by the CT Scan.

The presence of a mass in one’s lung can result in partial blockage of a bronchus and predispose one to pneumonia.   But, it is important to remember that a mass does not necessarily mean cancer; many benign masses, some infectious, can arise within the lung so, even if there truly is a mass, it may not be as ominous as you might believe.  

The sooner the CT Scan is done, the better for you, your husband and all concerned.  In the meantime, talking with his doctor may also allay your fears.

Good luck