my CT scan

I had a CT scan, and don't understand the interpretation. My Dr. is sending me to a lung specialist, tomorrow.  and i would like to understand a little before I go.  Thanks in advance for any help.

1.  Suspected neoplastic process involving the right paramediastinum, right upper lobe, with possible involvment of the right main-stem bronchus.

2.  Suspected adenopathy in the pre-vascular space along the the aortic arch.  Findings correlate with the abnormal density seen on the plain film.

It says in the findings section, there is a soft tissue irregular mass suspicious for a neoplastic process.  Less likely consideration would be for a consolidation, although no air bronchograms are seen.

Can anyone help me? Thank you!!

[National Jewish]

Sounds like there is a tumor.  It may or may not be cancer.  You will need additional tests for this to be determined.  One of the tests may be a bronchoscopy.  This is a procedure that is done under local rather than general anesthesia to create conscious sedation, which is like a light sleep.  During this procedure a bronchoscope is passed through your nose into your windpipe to look into your lungs.  A bronchoscope is a flexible tube with a small camera at one end.  With the bronchoscope tiny pieces of lung tissue can be taken for further testing.  This is called lung biopsy.  It is done to be certain about the cause of the problem.  Biopsy provides the specific answer that the CT scan cannot.  Another test that may be done is a bronchoalveolar lavage.  With a special type of bronchoscope a small amount of sterile saline is placed in one area of your lung and then removed.  This fluid will have cells from your lungs that can be examined under the microscope to see if these are cancer cells.

Adenopathy is another term for glands and lymph nodes that are larger than usual.  When this happens it usually causes no symptoms and is of no consequence.  There are many causes of enlarged lymph nodes.  They may or may not be related to the tumor.  It could even be a sign of a lung problem called sarcoidosis, which is not related to the tumor at all.

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