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What Does My X-ray Test Report Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 13 Sep 2016

Question: I got over a bad cold 3 weeks ago and I can't stop coughing. I cough up a lot of thick mucous sometimes and sometimes nothing. I had an x ray yesterday and I am worried about the results where it states I have blunting. What causes that.....effusion ? My Dr is not available to answer me and I am quite nervous. Am I ok ?
EXAMINATION: CHEST (PA AND LAT)
INDICATION: 88 year old man with cough // rule out infiltrate rule out
infiltrate

IMPRESSION:

In comparison with the study of December 2 2015, there is little overall
change. Mild blunting of the left costophrenic angle with mild atelectatic
changes. However, no evidence of acute pneumonia or vascular congestion. XXXXXXX L. Eisenberg, MD electronically signed on FRI AUG 12,2016 5:08 PM

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No need to worry for CPA blunting.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the x ray report you have mentioned.
No need to worry for CPA blunting and atelectesis because you are also having similar x ray findings in 2015.
You are mostly having pleural thickening and old fibrotic lesions. These lesions are stable over period of time. So in my opinion you should get done ultrasound examination of chest to confirm this.
Fresh pleural effusion and pleural thickening look similar on chest x ray, CPA blunting. Ultrasound will definitely give exact idea about pleural effusion and pleural thickening.
In my opinion, possibility of pleural thickening is more.
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. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (12 hours later)

Thank you for response ...but I have a follow up question: The previous x ray result ( below) did not state anything about “ blunting “ which you thought was included in the previous year report. Would this change any of your thoughts. Should I be on anti biotics with this problem

EXAMINATION: Portable chest radiograph
INDICATION: History: 87M, previously noted to have valvular
disease. // eval for pulm edema
TECHNIQUE: Portable chest radiograph
COMPARISON: Chest radiograph 30 November 2008
FINDINGS:
There is atelectasis at the left lung base. Lungs are otherwise without
consolidation, pleural effusion or pneumothorax. Heart size is normal.
Calcifications are noted at the aortic arch.
No acute cardiopulmonary process. XXXXXXX Lam, MD XXXXXXX W. Spirn, MD electronically signed on THU DEC 3,2015 5:48 PM XXXXXXX Lam, MD XXXXXXX W. Spirn, MD electronically signed on THU DEC 3,2015 5:48 PM

Procedure Date:12/02/15

I will get the x ray sent to me tomorrow and then I will forward

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Can you please upload the x ray pictures?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
It will be of great help if you can upload the x ray images.
You can attach the x ray pictures as attachment. There is attachment option in the question. So please attach there.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Brief Answer:
Ok. I will wait for the chest x ray.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I will wait for x rays. Don't worry, just let me know once you attach them.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar