shadow on lung ct

[davisbgs]

my mother in law had a ct scan after a chest xray and they noticed something they didn't like.  they put her on antibiotics and scheduled her for pulmonary tests next week.  she lost 18 lbs in just over 1 week.  she feels good, no fever, she sounds like she has a cold when she talks and is 75 years old.  she is very active playing golf most days.

1. any idea what she could have
2. don't you need a fever to go with pnemonia - she has no fever or any other sick symptons.  appetite is not good but she feels good.

[HeinrikMD]

Hi.
You are correct that pneumonia generally presents with cough and fever. However, for geriatric patients - the presentation may only be poor appetite, fatigue, and a cold. It is good that she seems to have recovered. I am not surprised that a CT scan was requested after the chest X-ray - again, age may make some findings difficult to discriminate in an X-ray  due to the contributions of age.
I'm glad she has recovered.
I'm not sure how accurate was your weight loss documentation - I am assuming that it may have been overestimated. Discuss this with your doctor, and inquire about other tests to evaluate the weight loss.
Stay positive.

[Connie 1]

What happened with the pulmonary tests?  18 lbs is a lot to lose in a week.  fever is usual with pneumonia as well as yucky stuff you cough up