EBT Scan - Early Emphysemateous Changes

[hardware2]

I'm 51 and quit a 25 year 2pack a day habit 4 years ago. I scheduled an EBT Heart & Lung scan on my own due to my history. I'm scared but shouldn't be surprised by the results: "There are small blebs and bullae involving the upper lungs, particularly involving the apex and right upper hemithorax. The larges one measures 1.0x2.5cm in size along the pleura. There is no pulmonary nodule, air space or interstitial opacities. No mediastinal or hilar adenopathy. There are scattered calcifications along the coronary arteries. There are degenerative changes involveing the lower levels of the thoracic spine and visualized lumber spine. No pleural effusion or pericardial effusion. Heart is normal in size. Thoracic aorta is normal in caliber." Impression was "Early emphysematous changes with small bleb and bulla formation" and "Scattered calcification along the coronary arteries." I can't get in to see my regular doctor for another week and I have a lot of anxiety regarding the results. Could you please comment on the findings and a general outlook for me. Thanks.

[WCLee]

A related discussion, emphysema life expectancy was started.

[National Jewish]

It is appropriate to characterize the abnormal findings, described in the text, as 'Early emphysematous changes with small bleb and bulla formation'.  This is like looking at a snapshot but provides no information about your lung function, and that is what counts.  To get that, you will need to have complete pulmonary function tests (PFTs).  Based on the information provided, it is likely that your PFTs will show mild COPD with emphysematous changes.

Calcification, presumably of the coronary arteries may or may not be of concern, depending on the extent of the calcification and whether or not you have symptoms of coronary artery disease.  For example, is this degree of calcification average for a man your age or excessive?  If the latter, you should seek consultation with a cardiologist.

The very good news is that, despite a 50 pack-year history of cigarette smoking, there were no findings to suggest lung cancer.

[starion]

Congrats on quitting!  That's the BEST thing you could do for your lungs, body & life, as well as those of your loved ones.  While there is nothing to reverse any damage already caused by smoking, avoiding smoke & lung irritants will help keep your lungs as healthy as possible and should enable you to have a very good quality of life for a very long time.

Starion