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What Does This Chest X-ray Showing Spot On Lower Left Lobe Of Lung Indicate?
Posted on
Sat, 27 Jun 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 27 Jun 2015
Answered on
Tue, 14 Jul 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : What does a "spot" on my lower left lobe of lung be? I was diagnosed with pneumonia on Monday I'm done with my medications and I'm not any better. can this spot be an infection from the pneumonia or can it be something else? they want me to see a pulmonoligist and this scares me. I should also say I have asthma and smoke but I'm trying really hard to quit and I just can't. they never really explained the spot even when I asked after my xrays.
Brief Answer:
Patient with acute cough symptoms and spot on X ray is usually pneumonia
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. In a person of your age with possible short duration of respiratory symptoms associated with a spot on the chest X ray usually points to a diagnosis of pneumonia.
2. Pneumonia is another name for lung infection and might be caused by bacteria or viruses multiplying in the lungs. This pneumonia appears as a spot on the X ray. Please attach the X ray image for an accurate understanding of your problem.
3. Once a pneumonia is suspected on X ray then treatment involves a course of antibiotics should it look like a bacterial infection and then the patient is asked to repeat the chest X ray after a week. It is strongly recommended to stop smoking.
4. It is most likely that if you have completed taking the antibiotics and are feeling better then the pneumonia has resolved after treatment. The follow up chest X ray will be normal in most patients.
5. If the spot is persisting or has increased in size then a higher investigation like CT scan chest might be indicated.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Patient with acute cough symptoms and spot on X ray is usually pneumonia
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. In a person of your age with possible short duration of respiratory symptoms associated with a spot on the chest X ray usually points to a diagnosis of pneumonia.
2. Pneumonia is another name for lung infection and might be caused by bacteria or viruses multiplying in the lungs. This pneumonia appears as a spot on the X ray. Please attach the X ray image for an accurate understanding of your problem.
3. Once a pneumonia is suspected on X ray then treatment involves a course of antibiotics should it look like a bacterial infection and then the patient is asked to repeat the chest X ray after a week. It is strongly recommended to stop smoking.
4. It is most likely that if you have completed taking the antibiotics and are feeling better then the pneumonia has resolved after treatment. The follow up chest X ray will be normal in most patients.
5. If the spot is persisting or has increased in size then a higher investigation like CT scan chest might be indicated.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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