opacity in upper lobe

[bp000]

What is the meaning of "suspicious faint opacity in upper lobes" from my xray results? I have been asked to have an apicolordotic view, but Im still waiting for the results. What diseases is this associated with? I am not losing weight nor having fever or sweating during the night.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  To determine if the opacity seen in the upper lungs on chest x-ray represents active tuberculosis or just a scar, additional tests have to be done.  Your sputum can be examined under the microscope (sputum AFB smear) for the presence of tuberculosis bacteria.  Another test which could be done is to place a sample of your sputum in a culture medium and see if tuberculosis bacteria will grow.  If you do not have symptoms at the moment (chronic cough, fever, weight loss), you most likely don't have active tuberculosis.  But if your employer demands additional proof, then a negative sputum AFB smear or sputum TB culture will settle the issue.

[maiha83]

gud morning doc,.
last year i was diagnose to have tb on my right upper lobe
but i didn't took medicine. when i took another chest xray it was seen to be suspicious and was suggested to take apicolordotic view. in my apicolordotic view the result was clear. is it possible for the tb to cleared even w/o taking antibiotics or any medicines?tnx

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cannot be diagnosed by chest x-ray alone.  Opacities seen on chest x-ray merely suggest PTB, but do not offer a definite diagnosis.  There has to be a particular set of symptoms present (chronic cough of at least two weeks duration, weight loss, afternoon fever) plus the presence of PTB bacilli in sputum microscopy or culture for us to be sure that a person has PTB.  It is theoretically possible (although unlikely) for PTB infection to resolve spontaneously.  A more plausible explanation for the disappearance of the opacity seen on initial x-ray, is that it is just an artifact (e.g. dirt that contaminated the x-ray plate) and not a true lung lesion.

[migzz]

just want to ask,i had 3 xray for the past 3 months on 1st and 2nd month the result was normal..but this march result was found out the suspicious upper right lobe opacity and i was asked for apicolordotic view but i haven't do yet..lately i don't know if it's all in the mind,i feel so tired..is that normal?tnx

[JheyR]

i just want to know what clear apices would mean????

[JheyR]

The apices are clear.The rest of the chest structures are distorted due to positioning. The superior mediastinum is not remarkable. The osseous thoracic cage reveals no significant bony abnormality..

CONCLUSION:  CLEAR APICES

can anyone would tell me what this mean...thank you so much for your thoughts and ideas...god bless everyone..