cystic nodules

[isis95]

I recently had a CT with contrast done back in September.  I am high risk for PE's and am on coumidin for it.  Luckily there was on PE but the radiologist noticed multple cystic nodules in both lungs. What would cause this.  I did grow up around 2nd hand cigarete smoke until I was 18 and was married to someone for over 6 years that was also a smoker. My pumlminologist found out that on a CT that I had had back in 2004 the cystic nodules were also present.  We just do not know whether or not if it is worse now or the same as in 04.  I have been told I can either wait 6 months and have the CT ran again to see if it gets worse or stays the same.  Or I can have a biopsy done to determine what it is .
How exactly is the biopsy like this done?  What else would cause this problem ?  I am trying to find out as much as I can so I can make a decision on what to do.

[Victoireh]

A bronchoscopy would be performed. They take a tiny camera and go via your mouth and down your airways as far as they can till something is seen, and a biopsy is taken with some tiny tools. There are more then one cause for cystic nodules, which could be benign growths, scar tissue or airway damage due to disease, or cancer.

Of course waiting 6 months is not easy. You could try to do the lung biopsy and see if any tissue can be obtained, if it is not successful then you would have wait the 6 months. Of course the unknown is always nerve wracking and immediate answers at least give some peace of mind.

[isis95]

Thank you for your quick reply.  The doctor told me I might be in the hospital for 2 days.  Would he be thinking of another type of biopsy besides the bronchosopy?It is hard for me to decide  what to do as I am on blood thinners and anything I have done , no matter how minor or simple the procedure is,, becomes a major ordeal.  I dont know why they are just now saying something about these cystic nodules since I have apparently had them for several years according to the doctor.  Guess I am a little scared about having a biopsy.  The last time I had a biopsy done was back in 93 when I was diognoised with moderate cervical dysplasia (class 3 - border line class 4).
I am wondering something- I lived with severe reflux for many years.  Could that have been a factor in all this scar tissue in my lungs?
Well thanks again for replying back so quickly.  Will let you know how it goes.
isis95