x-ray report

[Terri000]

My husband received a report from his doctor stating that findings from PA and lateral chest x-rays were as the following:  Findings:  Frontal and lateral views.  Heart size normal.  Pulmonary vasculature normal.  Lungs volumes are low.  Questionable sub-centimeter nodular densities peripherallly in the right upper lobe, not well seen on lateral view.  Left lung clear.  No pleural fluid or pneumothorax.  Impression:  Questionable tiny clustered nodules right upper lobe laterally.  This finding is of uncertain signifiance.  CT scan is recommended for follow up.

Please tell me what all this means.  Thank you.

[National Jewish]

You should discuss these findings with your husband's doctor, who is in the best position to interpret these findings.

The first thing you should do is to obtain all previous chest x-rays your husband has had for comparison with the current x-ray.  If these same "nodular densities" were present years ago and are unchanged, that should resolve the question.  By description, these small "nodules" are most likely benign and indicative of scarring from prior infection.

However, other factors must be considered in interpreting these findings including age, smoking history etc.

If no prior x-rays are available, you should proceed with the CT scan.