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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Heavy Smoker, Chronic Cough, No Fever, Pain. Had X-ray Report. Can Any Online Doctor Help Me To Read It?

Hi Doctor my father is 65 years old ,heavy smoker,have chronic cough,NO FEVER ,NO CHEST PAIN... CBC reveal WBC :5.8 X0000 \Ul, WITH 55% LYMPHOCYT & 45% NEUTROPHIL. on chest X-ray report there is inhomogenous veiling opacity in the right lung upper and middle zones associated with perripheral pleural base triangular opacity... WHAT this could be ?? i am really worry.
posted on Sun, 14 Apr 2013
Twitter Sun, 14 Apr 2013 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 15 Apr 2013 Last reviewed on
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Hello queen.
Thanks for visiting HCM.
Inhomogenous opacity on chest x-ray in an elderly heavy smoker must be considered a malignant or cancerous mass unless proved otherwise by investigations. Other possibilities can be tuberculosis, bacterial infections, collapse etc. Pleural based triangular opacity can be pleural effusion i.e is collection of pleural fluid between the two pleural layers, plural thickening, pleural spread of cancer etc.
Lung cancer can be asymptomatic till it is widely spread...
I think you must go for computed tomography scan of thorax (CT Thorax) of your father to get cleared about the nature of the lesion and if it is suggestive of cancerous then in the same sitting CT guided biopsy can be taken and subjected to histopathological examination for confirmation. Similarly pleural fluid can be aspirated and sent for routine microscopy, adenosine de-aminase, acid fast bacilli, culture and sensitivity. Further treatment will be guided by laboratory reports.

Consult a pulmonologist for thorough evaluation and treatment...
Best wishes for your father's health.
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Heavy Smoker, Chronic Cough, No Fever, Pain. Had X-ray Report. Can Any Online Doctor Help Me To Read It?

Hello queen. Thanks for visiting HCM. Inhomogenous opacity on chest x-ray in an elderly heavy smoker must be considered a malignant or cancerous mass unless proved otherwise by investigations. Other possibilities can be tuberculosis, bacterial infections, collapse etc. Pleural based triangular opacity can be pleural effusion i.e is collection of pleural fluid between the two pleural layers, plural thickening, pleural spread of cancer etc. Lung cancer can be asymptomatic till it is widely spread... I think you must go for computed tomography scan of thorax (CT Thorax) of your father to get cleared about the nature of the lesion and if it is suggestive of cancerous then in the same sitting CT guided biopsy can be taken and subjected to histopathological examination for confirmation. Similarly pleural fluid can be aspirated and sent for routine microscopy, adenosine de-aminase, acid fast bacilli, culture and sensitivity. Further treatment will be guided by laboratory reports. Consult a pulmonologist for thorough evaluation and treatment... Best wishes for your father s health.