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Kindly Explain Reading From My HRCT THORAX Test?
Posted on
Sat, 28 Jul 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 28 Jul 2018
Answered on
Tue, 20 Dec 2022
Last reviewed on
Question : Two months back because of shortness of breath and a very mild pain on the right upper chest led me to do an X ray which was diagnosed as patchy Pneumonitis in the lungs.I got a PFT done and my blood tests were all normal.I took Loflox500 for 10 days and the pain was gone by the second day itself.However I have continued to have occasional shortness of breath.I swim 3-4 times a week doing a kilometer of swimming and I only use stairs to go up a building.
Just to get a confirmation I did a HRCT Thorax done and the report is Mino fibrotic changes in apical and apico posterior segment of left upper lobe
That's the reading from my HRCT THORAX test.Kindly explain
Just to get a confirmation I did a HRCT Thorax done and the report is Mino fibrotic changes in apical and apico posterior segment of left upper lobe
That's the reading from my HRCT THORAX test.Kindly explain
Brief Answer:
You are having old healed Scar lesions.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on HealthcareMagic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the CT report you have mentioned.
This report is suggestive of old healed fibrotic lesions.
Lung infection heals by either fibrosis (common) and calcification (less common).
So the presence of fibrosis is mostly due to healed old Scar lesions.
So please let me know:
1. Do you smoke?
2. Exactly which area of the lung was involved in previous pneumonia?
3. Do you have any childhood pneumonia or tuberculosis?.
Please let me know answers to above-asked questions so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
You are having old healed Scar lesions.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on HealthcareMagic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the CT report you have mentioned.
This report is suggestive of old healed fibrotic lesions.
Lung infection heals by either fibrosis (common) and calcification (less common).
So the presence of fibrosis is mostly due to healed old Scar lesions.
So please let me know:
1. Do you smoke?
2. Exactly which area of the lung was involved in previous pneumonia?
3. Do you have any childhood pneumonia or tuberculosis?.
Please let me know answers to above-asked questions so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I had tuberculosis in December 2003 and had a six month course of medication till XXXXXXX 2004
However in the last 15 years I have had number of chest x-rays which have never showed this.Prior to the x-ray I did in May 2018 where patchy Pneumonitis was mentioned I had done an X ray in December 2017 which was absolutely clean and shortness of breath is something I have been experiencing only for the last 3 months.I measure my oxygen saturation regularly with a pulse oximeter and the saturation has always been in the prescribed range.I have no fever or weight loss recently and my appetite is absolutely good.
I have never smoked in my life
The x-ray report of May 2018 read "patchy Pneumonitis seen in right paracardiac region"
However in the last 15 years I have had number of chest x-rays which have never showed this.Prior to the x-ray I did in May 2018 where patchy Pneumonitis was mentioned I had done an X ray in December 2017 which was absolutely clean and shortness of breath is something I have been experiencing only for the last 3 months.I measure my oxygen saturation regularly with a pulse oximeter and the saturation has always been in the prescribed range.I have no fever or weight loss recently and my appetite is absolutely good.
I have never smoked in my life
The x-ray report of May 2018 read "patchy Pneumonitis seen in right paracardiac region"
Brief Answer:
The chest x-ray can be normal in minor fibrotic lesions.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up.
I can understand your concern.
These fibrotic Scar lesions are mostly due to previous tuberculosis infection.
Since you don't have a fever or a cough at present, no need to worry about this CT report.
The chest x-ray is just a screening tool.
It can miss small lesions, scars etc.
CT thorax is a 3D image of lungs. So minor scars can also be detected on CT which are not detected on chest x-ray.
So in my opinion, no need to worry about minor fibrotic lesions on CT scan.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
The chest x-ray can be normal in minor fibrotic lesions.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up.
I can understand your concern.
These fibrotic Scar lesions are mostly due to previous tuberculosis infection.
Since you don't have a fever or a cough at present, no need to worry about this CT report.
The chest x-ray is just a screening tool.
It can miss small lesions, scars etc.
CT thorax is a 3D image of lungs. So minor scars can also be detected on CT which are not detected on chest x-ray.
So in my opinion, no need to worry about minor fibrotic lesions on CT scan.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I have the following queries
The X ray which mentioned patchy Pneumonitis said it was in the right paracardiac region..the HRCT says apical and apico posterior of left upper lobe..are these two areas same?
What is causing this breathlessness and what is the way forward?
Am not worried about it being TB..I want to know if there is a chance of this being pulmonary fibrosis..what more tests should I do for a confirmation on fibrosis
Also coughing is something which is always off and on for me..more of an allergy
Please oblige by answering the queries
The X ray which mentioned patchy Pneumonitis said it was in the right paracardiac region..the HRCT says apical and apico posterior of left upper lobe..are these two areas same?
What is causing this breathlessness and what is the way forward?
Am not worried about it being TB..I want to know if there is a chance of this being pulmonary fibrosis..what more tests should I do for a confirmation on fibrosis
Also coughing is something which is always off and on for me..more of an allergy
Please oblige by answering the queries
Brief Answer:
No these areas are not the same.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HealthcareMagic.
I can understand your concern.
No, both these areas are not the same, they are different.
Pneumonia-related lung opacities are usually healed completely without producing fibrosis.
While healing from tuberculosis lesions would mostly produce fibrosis.
Could you please send me your PFT report?
I don't think it is Pulmonary fibrosis because CT pattern is entirely different in Pulmonary fibrosis.
I want to rule out small Airway disease as a cause for breathlessness and coughing.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
No these areas are not the same.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HealthcareMagic.
I can understand your concern.
No, both these areas are not the same, they are different.
Pneumonia-related lung opacities are usually healed completely without producing fibrosis.
While healing from tuberculosis lesions would mostly produce fibrosis.
Could you please send me your PFT report?
I don't think it is Pulmonary fibrosis because CT pattern is entirely different in Pulmonary fibrosis.
I want to rule out small Airway disease as a cause for breathlessness and coughing.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
My spirometry test was within normal limits
Do you suggest that I do HRCT from time to time
Two months back when patchy Pneumonitis was detected in the x-ray my CBC and CRP blood reports were normal only ESR was high
Please suggest other tests to correlate this
Should I do a TMT test done
Do you suggest that I do HRCT from time to time
Two months back when patchy Pneumonitis was detected in the x-ray my CBC and CRP blood reports were normal only ESR was high
Please suggest other tests to correlate this
Should I do a TMT test done
Brief Answer:
Just get done HRCT after 1 year.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No need for regular HRCT.
Just get done HRCT after 1 year.
If fibrotic changes are static then no need to worry and no need for regular HRCT thorax.
First get done ecg.
Please let me know
1. Do you have chest pain on exertion?
2. Do you have family history of heart diseases?
3. Do you have stressful lifestyle?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions so that I can guide about TMT or other cardiac tests.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Just get done HRCT after 1 year.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No need for regular HRCT.
Just get done HRCT after 1 year.
If fibrotic changes are static then no need to worry and no need for regular HRCT thorax.
First get done ecg.
Please let me know
1. Do you have chest pain on exertion?
2. Do you have family history of heart diseases?
3. Do you have stressful lifestyle?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions so that I can guide about TMT or other cardiac tests.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Hi Doctor
Had done two ECG in May both were clean
Had done CBC CRP ESR in May all were WNL except ESR which was 44
No history of family heart diseases
I mentioned in my previous msgs that I swim a kilometer 3-4 days a week
Haven't experienced any pain in the chest lately
The ECGs were done to eliminate any heart related ailments.Had also done a Trop I test that was also obviously ok
My lifestyle isn't that stressful.I don't smoke/no alcohol
and my work allows me enough time to relax
I suppose TMT is more to check the status of the health of the heart
Please suggest way ahead
Had done two ECG in May both were clean
Had done CBC CRP ESR in May all were WNL except ESR which was 44
No history of family heart diseases
I mentioned in my previous msgs that I swim a kilometer 3-4 days a week
Haven't experienced any pain in the chest lately
The ECGs were done to eliminate any heart related ailments.Had also done a Trop I test that was also obviously ok
My lifestyle isn't that stressful.I don't smoke/no alcohol
and my work allows me enough time to relax
I suppose TMT is more to check the status of the health of the heart
Please suggest way ahead
Brief Answer:
You can go for TMT.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you can definitely go for TMT.
It will also come normal.
Your PFT is normal, ecg is normal, you are living healthy stress free life, no positive family history for heart diseases, so it is unlikely to have heart and lung diseases.
I just want to know PEF 25-75 value from your PFT report.
Can you tell me this?
I am asking this because if this value is less then there is chance of small Airway disease and this can also cause breathing difficulty.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
You can go for TMT.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you can definitely go for TMT.
It will also come normal.
Your PFT is normal, ecg is normal, you are living healthy stress free life, no positive family history for heart diseases, so it is unlikely to have heart and lung diseases.
I just want to know PEF 25-75 value from your PFT report.
Can you tell me this?
I am asking this because if this value is less then there is chance of small Airway disease and this can also cause breathing difficulty.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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