Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Mild COPD With Normal Chest X-ray?
Posted on
Fri, 11 Jul 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 11 Jul 2014
Answered on
Mon, 28 Jul 2014
Last reviewed on
Brief Answer:
More information needed!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about these diagnosis and all the inconveniences this has had on you.
Asthma would present with normal findings on an x-ray except when you have symptoms or you are having an asthmatic crisis. This means that a normal chest x-ray cannot exclude the diagnosis of asthma.
COPD may have symptoms on x-ray especially in the late stages. Early stages may be more of clinical diagnosis than radiographic evidence.
This means that a normal x-ray, would not confirm exclude COPD in the early stages and would not exclude the diagnosis of asthma. Ask your doctor what his thoughts are after this normal x-ray findings. He may update the diagnosis and make changes depending on information gathered during interrogation and examination.
In all, a normal x-ray alone is not enough to say you don't have COPD or asthma. More information is needed. Ask your doctor what his final thoughts are given these results of normal x-ray.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and d feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
More information needed!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about these diagnosis and all the inconveniences this has had on you.
Asthma would present with normal findings on an x-ray except when you have symptoms or you are having an asthmatic crisis. This means that a normal chest x-ray cannot exclude the diagnosis of asthma.
COPD may have symptoms on x-ray especially in the late stages. Early stages may be more of clinical diagnosis than radiographic evidence.
This means that a normal x-ray, would not confirm exclude COPD in the early stages and would not exclude the diagnosis of asthma. Ask your doctor what his thoughts are after this normal x-ray findings. He may update the diagnosis and make changes depending on information gathered during interrogation and examination.
In all, a normal x-ray alone is not enough to say you don't have COPD or asthma. More information is needed. Ask your doctor what his final thoughts are given these results of normal x-ray.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and d feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
