lung nodules help

[stanford]

tNeed help. I have been having right abdomen problems and recently had gall bladder removed(4/3). Still having swollen area and loose bowels. ct scan did not show problem but did pick up a lung nodule/lesion. Back yesterday for a chest ct scan. Results today showed this:3 3mm lesionin rt upper lobe, 3mm lesion in rt middle lobe, 3mm lesion in lower left lobe, 4 mm lesion in rt lower lobe and a 3mm lesion in lesft lower lobe. No other parenchymal lung lesions are identified. There is no appreciable adenopathy.The pericardium is not thickened. The visualized upper abdomen structures appear normal. Also some enlargement of the right lobe of the thyroid compared to the left, a finding that may represent an anatomic variant. (am taking synthroid now)
Impression-Lesions of this nature should be followed serially for a minimum of two years without change to confirm benign process. Follow up ct in six months is advisable. There is no adenopothy.
Adiscreet thyroid mass is not appreciated.
My  history:  53 yrs old, never smoked but have worked in public work in recreational field where I was in seasonal contact of line marker (plus-5 brand )4 months a year for 6 yrs for ball fields as well as chlorine for pools. I also raise exotic parrots in a moistly enclosed area for 7-8 yrs s.
Question is should I wait on the 6 month test or seek out a respitory specialist now!  I am worried that these lesions could be cancerous even though they say they apear to be benign at this point. I do have some back muscle pain spots.   Should these nodules be biopsied or what? Thanks

[Lefttys407]

I have a similar situation going on. I was having quite a time with a sore throat, some wheezing, greenish phlegm and chest pain a couple months ago. The doctor ordered a chest x ray. It came back clean with a nodule about 1 cm present. I then got another chest x ray about a month later, followed by a CT scam. The nodule had remained the same size on both. The doctor said it had not calcified, but expected my next  CT scan would show no growth. I'm quite nervous about the results of my next one. I've had a little discolored phlegm, but only a little off white and yellow. I'm a 19 year old female, who has never smoked. I didn't grow up in a household with smokers. I'm still nervous about my chances of having a malignant nodule.

[stanford]

Thanks for your thoughts. I did not have the radiologist say I should have a bronchoscopy done. I asked  my doctor for a referral to a lung specia;ist and I will see him this week. I found out about the lesions when  they were looking for the cause of my pain/swollen feeling in my lower right abdomen. I have had a small wheezing when lying down for  10 years or more. I did do a routine breath yest a year and a half ago and did not have quite as much air as I should have . I can walk and run if needed without gasping for air or really even breathing very hard. I have always had sinus problems and don't breathe well through my nose (deviated septum) and it closes up if smoke or fumes  etc are present. Anyway, I will talk to the kung dr this week about everything and see what he has to say. Thanks again for your reply.  Stanford

[Jane2]

Hi Stanford

Did your radiologist not want to perform a Bronchoscopy?  They may be able to take a culture from there and it is not an invasive procedure (I have had two one before diagnoses one to say all was clear aftrwards ) Are you having any other symptoms that may warrant further investigation? Do you feel fine and these details were just routine without worry from your Doc?
The nodules may be just scars, they may also change after the next CT, I would ask your doc their opinion on whether you should wait months or whether you should investigate now and do tell your doctor about the proximity to birds.

Hope you are feeling okay and try not to stress yourself out over the situation, a cool head and plenty of questions for your Doctor is what is needed.


Best
J

[National Jewish]

By standard criteria, these nodules are very small.  In a 53-year-old who never smoked, it is highly likely that they are benign.  The recommendation that you wait 6 months to repeat the CT scan is sound.  A biopsy is not indicated at this time.

If you have not already done so, you should seek to obtain all previous chest x-rays and, if ever done, CT scans.  If one or more of these nodules was present some time ago, that may resolve the question.

Finally, these nodules could be related to your exposure to exotic parrots.

[Narda99]

I developed lung nodules after pneumonia this past winter.  My doctor does a scan every 6 months just to keep an eye on them to make sure they do not change.  At this point, she does not think they are anything to be worried about.

[stanford]

Thanks for your comments. I haven't had pnuemonia  or anything like that but I have developed a wheezing,  usually only noticeable when lying down. Just wondering what the chances are of these nodules  turning cancerous in the future , if they are indeed benign now. To anyone else, if I eliminate or greatly reduce the bird dander/dust from all my prs of birds via a professional mask, would this possibly reverse these nodules or alter them in a good way? Once again I have never smoked but have been exposed to silica dust during seasonal work ( has been 10-12 yrs ago) as well as this bird dust etc.  Thanks again