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.  "Opacities" in chest x-ray refer to white smudges on the lung areas. Normal lungs appear dark on x-ray films because they're filled with air.  Any material denser than air would appear as an opacity.  "Suspicious faint opacity in upper lobes" may suggest a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis or a lung mass, depending on the characteristics of the opacity.  An apicolordotic view was requested to verify if that opacity is really there or just an artifact when the original chest x-ray was taken.  

[mae674]

What is the meaning of Opacities in my x-ray result....that i need an apicolordotic view of my left upper lobe? Im coughing during my x-ray....is this can affect my x-ray result? during my 2nd or repeat x-ray i have cough still...but im not losing weight nor fever or sweating during the night. still the result...opacities may be due to TB.... does it means i need to repeat again my x-ray?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  The apicolordotic view is requested by the physician when he's uncertain about the nature of the upper lobe opacity he sees on the original x-ray.  It doesn't necessarily follow that you need an apicolordotic view just because some opacities were seen.  Your doctor needs to look at the entire clinical picture gathered from your history, physical examination, and other laboratory tests, and correlate it with the x-ray findings, to come up with an interpretation of what those opacities "mean".  So those opacities may or may not be due to tuberculosis.  It really depends on what clinical picture you present with.

Coughing while the chest x-ray is being taken can cause some blurring of the image, but will not cause opacities to happen.

[achiej]

You said:
"An apicolordotic view was requested to verify if that opacity is really there or just an artifact when the original chest x-ray was taken."

-- My son's first x-ray result also indicated "suspicious opacity in upper lobes" and the doctor requested for have an apicolordotic view (no results available yet).  
What "artifact" do you think can cause the opacity in a chest x-ray?

Thank you for your  help!

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  Sometimes, dirt gets on the x-ray film or smudges occur during processing of the x-ray film.  These can also appear on the film as "opacities", and what I was referring to in my earlier post as "artifacts".  If the opacity is truly found within the lung, it will still be seen in the apicolordotic view, whereas artifacts typically will not reappear on the second film.

[slick14]

gud pm po..
my history po dti ko ng ptb and been treated already ( 2005) and my naiwan po n scar. ngpmedical po ako for employment and pinpag rerepeat me ng xray  for apicolordotic view. tnong ko lng po kung mlalaman b nila n scar nlng tlga un?? bka kc hindi me tanggapin bka akalain nila n my ptb p ko. sinabi ko kc don sa doctor n wala ako history ng ptb e.
plz reply po...
thanks and Godbless

[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..

[sweet23]

gud day po, yearly po kme ngpapaxray and last year nomal nmn po un result skin.this month po, sbe ng result meron daw po "very minimal opacities seen in the left apex"..tpos ung pulmonary q eh normal din lhat normal na..ask q kung nu meaning nun?niresetahan nya po aq ng rifampicin for 2 months at un appetite plus..wala po aq nrrmdamn kht anu n symptoms(loss of appetite, fever, etc), mtkw p nga po aq eh.as in wala po ako nrrmdmn.tnx

[jay0325]

doc pano kung may ptb at pneumonia nakita sa xray pero ala naman ako nararamdaman kakaiba sa katawan ko alang fever ubo loss of weight

[eil_90]

Hi po doc. i hav recently undergone CXR and it says in my CXR: suspicious opacities in the right apex. I was advised to undergo coned-down view. Was it similar to apicolordotic view. i also wnt to know if opacity in my right apex suggests that my right apex is not clear

pls reply. tnx po doc!

[rumsey]

I cant make out what the doctor is saying,...."Chest x-ray showed multiple pulmonary opacities with right upper lobe ________."   Right upper lobe what?  Can someone help me please?
Thanks

[marlene100381]

Doc,
I have an xray taken the other day. The result says "There is an inhomogeneous opacity at the right upper lobe. Rest of the lung fileds are clear. The trachea is in the midline. The heart is not enlarged. The pulmonary vessels are within normal limits. Both hemidiaphragms are distinct the osseous thoracic cage reveals no significant bony abnormality "

Ano po ibig sabihin nito... Please help me po.. Can this be a ground for not accepting me for my job?

[lhen74]

hello! just got my xray last april and i was advised to take apicolordotic view because of hazy density is noted in the right upper lobe,wat does it mean?please help me because i am scared..tenks and Godbless

[Donatelo]

I had an x-ray yesterday and the results was "ancillary study shows clear apices". What does it mean doc? Please help me po. Salamat

Donatelo of Muntinlupa City

[sree502]

I have done my Chest X-Ray and the report says
"Subtle Fibrocalcific are seen in bilateral upper zone suggestive of sequale of an old infection"

Can anyone tell me what does this mean...Is there any problem or disease i am having especially TB?

[edwardejarapa]

Gud day po for everyone...gusto kuh lang e share kung ano meron sakin kac nagpapa proces po ako nang requirements kuh and din kelangan mag pa x-ray e yung results minimal PTB po...wla naman po akong nararamdaman na kakaiba taz biglaan lang na ganun..parang ayaw kuh na ituloy ang trabaho kuh..

tnx...po..
god bless everyone..
sana matulungan nyo ako doc

[unknown_patient]

I would like to know what am I facing, coz I did my following tests:-
1) 3 back to back chest X-rays which resulted in opacities in the right upper lobe.
2) Doctors asked to under go a sputum and culture test (which I did in India and in Canada) both were negative.
3) After it is negative, doctors are unable to answer as to why am I facing pain in my right upper lobe (when I sneeze and wake up in the morning)
4) I was asked to under go a CT scan, which resulted in a non - homogenous fibro nodular opacities seen in the right upper lobe with few fibrotic strands.

I am highly disturbed as no doctor is able to answer why am I facing this pain, would you be able to help me with this.

Look forward to hear from you.

[magz05]

hi im 21 years old and im a nurse 2 years ago i was diagnosed with ptb minimal for a medical exam for our hospital trainings.i might acquired it from one of my pt. i consulted my physician and undergone a sputum AFB the results are all negative so i was given a medical certifacate saying that i am not contagous. i was treated though. after 2 months i came back but after that i did not go back to my doctor but finished the whole six months of treatment instead. i never had other chest xray since then because i a ashamed of my condition. now i am planning to go abroad but i am scared that my chest xray will show that i am not cured and will failed the medical exam. i am so scared and worried now. PLEASE HELP. thanks

[dug_yot363]

hi i am 23 years old..and a working student...every semester break in our school..students must undergo in a medical test..i am a 3rd year now sir...on my previous x ray results it show that i have a lungs are "CLEAR..
but yesterday when i got my recent x ray result..it says that i have a persisted hazy densities on the part that i have before..and it also says that it has no interval change..why do you mean by this sir? because it makes me feel bad..:(
my question doc are..
do i still have to undergo in medical treatment? if i must how many months could it be..? and is there possibility that i can treat my PTB..permanently...