worried about husband's xray

Husband was diagnosed w/ mild pneumonia (had a really bad case 10 yrs ago, had to stay in the hospital), had an xray done,BUT they also found slight PROMINENCE IN THE LEFT HILUM.  Had another xray 2 wks later, pneumonia is just about gone but the "prominence" is still there-unchanged!!
He's having a ct scan done Monday, "just in case" even though his dr thinks this is related to pneumonia and "probably" will get back to normal.
I am terrified of this because why would they send him for a ct scan if they don't suspect anything???
I made a mistake of looking this up on the internet and came up with many SCARY sites.
Does this sound bad to anyone??? He's 40yrs old, never smoked.
Jelena

[National Jewish]

There are many diseases that can cause enlargement or prominence of the hilum.  In a 40-year-old non-smoker, the majority of these are not cancer.  This includes lymph node enlargement that can occur along with pneumonia.  The doctors are practicing good medicine by getting a CT scan.  I would take them at their word, when they say, "just to be sure."

Good luck.

[starion]

Please work with the docs & wait until the CT scan.  The CT should be able to provide a good view of whatever was seen in the x-ray.  High resolution spiral CT scans can reveal a great deal & will be very helpful in figuring out whether there is anything of concern.  
Starion

[tbart]

Greetings,
I had a severe pneumonia about 2-1/2 years ago.  I was hospitalized in ICU for four days and three days in the general ward.  I recovered quickly but a follow up CT two months later showed spots in both lungs.  I panicked of course and prepared for the worst.  Two years later there is barely a trace of the spots and I am feeling great.  You ask why your husband's doctor would want to see a CT if he felt this was due to the pneumonia.  That in itself should not be a worry to you but rather a consolation because you will get a better answer.  The reason your husband is being sent back for a CT is primarily because it shows much better information than an X-Ray.    The odds are that this is a result of the pneumonia and not something else.  I am not a doctor but have been in your shoes.  God Bless and good luck!

[jelena5]

Thanks for responding! He had his ct this morning and we're waiting for results.  His follow up w/ the dr is not until next Monday (they don't wait that long if they suspect anything??).  I think I'm more nervous than he is.
Anyhow, thanks, all I can do now is pray and wait.

[erwin80]

my daughter has recurring pneumonia and will be having a ct done in 2 days..  i think maybe i have looked up the same sites as you because now we're thinking the worst.  it's scary to think that it could be worse than pneumonia.  she's had it 3 times in the past 10 months, we don't smoke, don't hang out with people who do. she wasn't born premature or anything so we're lost....