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What Does My CT Scan Report Indicate?
Posted on
Wed, 11 Feb 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 11 Feb 2015
Answered on
Sat, 28 Feb 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Results from my CT on the Impression: 3mm pulmonary nodules are seen in the upper right lobe. There is no nodule or mass identified corresponding with finding on chest x-ray. Correlate with clinical risk factors, as per Fleischner Society recommendations this patient MAY NOT REQUIRE FOLLOWUP. I am confused by the remark may not require follow up. May not is a pretty broad term.
Brief Answer:
no need to worry much for malignancy.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
I can understand your problem and situation.
Fleischner society classification is for solitary pulmonary nodule. It is based on nodule Size and risk factors present in the patient. If nodule size is less than 4 mm and no risk factors then no follow up needed. This is basically to rule out early malignant nodule if present.
Now the risk factors are smoking, occupational exposure, underlying lung disease (COPD), positive family history etc.
As radiologist aren't fully aware of your medical history and the risk factors, so they use words such as 'may not'. Your physician will be able to ascertain this fact.
In the nutshell, if you don't have the above mentioned risk factors and nodule size is less than 4 mm, then there is no follow up as risk of malignant nodule is almost negligible. So no need to worry by the words MAY NOT.
Please let me know if above mentioned risk factors are present or not.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
no need to worry much for malignancy.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
I can understand your problem and situation.
Fleischner society classification is for solitary pulmonary nodule. It is based on nodule Size and risk factors present in the patient. If nodule size is less than 4 mm and no risk factors then no follow up needed. This is basically to rule out early malignant nodule if present.
Now the risk factors are smoking, occupational exposure, underlying lung disease (COPD), positive family history etc.
As radiologist aren't fully aware of your medical history and the risk factors, so they use words such as 'may not'. Your physician will be able to ascertain this fact.
In the nutshell, if you don't have the above mentioned risk factors and nodule size is less than 4 mm, then there is no follow up as risk of malignant nodule is almost negligible. So no need to worry by the words MAY NOT.
Please let me know if above mentioned risk factors are present or not.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
smoking is my risk factor
Brief Answer:
need to know following things.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up query on HCM.
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factor for malignant pulmonary nodule.
Since you are smoker, I need to know following things first.
1. Since how long do you smoke?
2. How many cigarettes you smoke in a day?
3. Do you have any symptoms like cough, breathlessness, hemoptysis (blood in sputum)
Please let me know these answers first, so that I can guide you further.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
need to know following things.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up query on HCM.
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factor for malignant pulmonary nodule.
Since you are smoker, I need to know following things first.
1. Since how long do you smoke?
2. How many cigarettes you smoke in a day?
3. Do you have any symptoms like cough, breathlessness, hemoptysis (blood in sputum)
Please let me know these answers first, so that I can guide you further.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Have smoked 30+ years a pack a day just started within the past 3 month a chronic cough, no breathlessness or hemoptysis
Brief Answer:
better to get done PFT also.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
And thanks for your information.
So, you are heavy smoker. Better to consult pulmonologist and get done PFT (pulmonary function test) to rule out early COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). As early COPD will have only coughing without breathlessness.
So get done PFT.
And please quit smoking as soon possible as it will only harm you.
Since you are having risk factor (smoking), you need to get done follow up CT scan after 6 months to see whether nodule is static or enlarging or decreasing in size.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
better to get done PFT also.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
And thanks for your information.
So, you are heavy smoker. Better to consult pulmonologist and get done PFT (pulmonary function test) to rule out early COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). As early COPD will have only coughing without breathlessness.
So get done PFT.
And please quit smoking as soon possible as it will only harm you.
Since you are having risk factor (smoking), you need to get done follow up CT scan after 6 months to see whether nodule is static or enlarging or decreasing in size.
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. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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