secondary ptb status quo

[chris32810]

Hello there! I was just wondering if secondary ptb status quo will still be treated? and what does this mean? Is it contagious? This was the result from my mom's xray, we did one last may and this month for comparative reason, and the result revealed the same, there were opacities noted in her left upper lung field, she had been exposed to the disease during her early years, she is now 70. She had completed the treatment, her previous doctor said that the one seen in her lungs are scars left from the treatment, she consulted it though but she wasn't given any treatment. Hope you can enlighten me with this one. Thanks And God Bless!

[Quero]

A related discussion, Secondary PTB, both upper lungs was started.

[chris32810]

Hello again! Thank you for the response Doctor David, Here is the full result of my mother's xray report.

Fibonodular opacities are noted at the left upper lung field. The rest of the lung fields are clear. The heart is not enlarged. The pulmonary vessels are within normal limits. The thoracic aorta is tortous. Thr trachea is in the midline. Both hemodiaphragms are distinct. There is lipping of the apposing margins of the dorsal vertebrae. Comparative study with previous radiograph dated 05-26-11 reveals no change

Conclusion:

Secondary PTB, left upper lung field-STATUS QUO
Atherosclerosis of the thoracic aorta
spondylosis of the dorsal spine

I am referring to the treatment of TB which is the 6 mos. course. She was able to complete this during the active phase of the disease. Her physician requested for a comparative xray, when the result came in and during the consultation dated September 10, 2011 there was no treatment given as my mom claimed that she was already treated. Do we need for a sputum exam to confirm if the disease is still contagious? Thanks.

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

I am sorry, but I don’t understand your question.  What do you mean by secondary ptb (pulmonary TB) status quo.  Are you referring to inactive pulmonary TB?  I am also confused by the two statements 1) “she completed the treatment…”  and 2) “she consulted though, but she wasn’t given any treatment.”.   Finally, does your use of the phrase, “status quo” refer to the unchanged chest X-rays from May to September?”  Please clarify.