what can the spots be?

[debbie1223]

I went to the hospital on December 1st. I was having chest pains difficulty breathing and body aches. I had and x-ray done and they told me everything was ok and that i just have bronchitis. I have bronchitis at least once a month. I am a smoker now of 5 years and i am 19 years old. Two days after being in the hospital i recieved a call from one of the nurses telling me that something was found on my lung. I told my doctor and he reviewed the result and suggested that i get a chest ct scan. So last Tuesday i went and had the test done. My doctor got the results on Friday and there were 2 spots found on my left lung. He suggested that i have a tb test done and i dont have. What else could it be??? I am scared i am only 19 and i wont this to be over......ANy suggestions?

[HeinrikMD]

that's good.
best of luck

[debbie1223]

hi thank you so much for your help. I am going on febuary 13 to see a lung specialist. And i do not have any diseases.

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,
Aside form infectious causes. other causes are benign masses like harmartoma or chondroma . These conditions may present with noother accompanying symptoms. If you have some other disease (which I doubt due to your age) like rheumatoid arthritis and wegener's granulomatosis. These disease would have other manifestations such as problems with the joints and the kidneys.
Bottomlike, inquire from your doctor the next step. If the recommendation is to observe and do another test after a period of 3 months or so, then the estimate that whatever it is, it is not likely cancer.
Stay positive.

[debbie1223]

i dont have tb and it was the one they do on the skin

[debbie1223]

i dont have Tb

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,
What kind of test for TB did you do?
Did you submit a specimen of your spit (sputum)? While  this provides one of the best means of diagnosis for TB -  it is often negative.
Did you do a skin test with PPD? The results of this can become negative in the  presence of other conditions affecting the immune system such as intake of steroids, the presence of a viral infection around the time the testing was done also makes the result less useful.  If there is reason to believe there is a confounding drug or condition, then the test ought to be repeated.
If we are to assume that TB is indeed negative, other infections may produce nodules like sarcoid.
Discuss with your doctor what to do next. It is not uncommon to be asked to simply undergo repeated CT scans over a period of 3 months to observe if there is any growth. Some people are not comfortable with this plan - since it appears that  nothing is being done. This plan is based on a greater risk of biopsy complications   over the  risk of  it actually being cancer.
Stay positive, and make an effort to quit smoking. Cigarettes are addictive, inquire from your doctor how to go about getting help, there are places that  focus primarily on quitting.