What Does The Following Chest X-ray Result Indicate?

Posted on Wed, 5 Apr 2017

Question: I had a check xray and there is a nodue on my lung been there fr 7 years. iy=t was very snall. Now it is 1" and she called it a small lesion with a patch over it like an infection scartissue.There are NO Lymph nodes present she says that is a good sign, She said 85% sure ot cancer....till scared cant sleep!! Mayb pnjeumonia

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Better to get done CT scan of thorax with contrast.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Most important thing in your case is increasing size of nodule.
With increase in size, possibility of malignant nodule is also increasing.
So better to get done CT thorax with contrast.
CT will give you much more details about nodule like size, shape, margins etc.
And all these are important in deciding further lime of management.
Please let me know if you had CT scan done or not.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)

My doctor said that she is 85% sure it is not lung cancer because no lymph nodes present.. I am having a CT scan with contrast . She said cancer would indicate lymph nodes present and there are none. Its a small lesion with a patch over it..Like an infection or scar tissue. I am so nerveous I cant think straight scan will not be for one week. What do you think??

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Early lung cancer can not cause lymphnode involvement.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No it is not true. Early lung cancer can not cause lymphnode involvement and hence no lymphnode enlargement is seen.
So absence of lymphnode enlargement is not conclusive about benign nodule.
I want to know few more things.
1. Do you have any respiratory symptoms like cough, chest congestion, phlegm etc?
2. Do you have weight loss or hemoptysis?
3. Do you have family history of cancer?
Please reply me answers of 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. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (18 minutes later)

I have a dry cough!! Never spit up Phlegm
I am 65 lbs overweight and only lost 4 lbs in 6 months
My grandmother had sometype of cancer do not remember
You are stating that because lymphnodes are not present that is could still be lung cancer!! I was told mayb and infection or pneumonia. The doctor who read the xray said to my doctor treat it like pneumonia and get a CT scan. I appreciate your opinion and am scared silly

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I am more concern about slow growing nature of nodule.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I am more concern about slow growing nature of the nodule.
Scar can not grow. I will remain static throughout the life. So Scar is less likely.
Pneumonia is usually fast growing. And I will definitely cause fever and sputum production. So pneumonia is also less likely.
These are the reasons why I am more concern about malignant nodule.
I forgot to ask you two more important questions.
1. Are you a smoker? Current or past?
2. Do you have any previous history of lung infection or pneumonia etc?
Please reply me answers of 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. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

I quit smoking 35 years ago--No previous history just when the nodule showed up 7 years ago and was monitored for a year and there was no change now there is change and it is double in size.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
In my opinion, you should first rule out malignant nodule.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Since you were a smoker and not having history of lung infection, we should definitely rule out malignant nodule first.
So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.
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. Prasad