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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does Small Shadow On Left Lung Mean?

I am a smoker, well I have quit as of today due to fear. I had a chest x-Ray and MRI back in July for an anterior discetomy. I was told I was healthy. Yesterday, I went for my routine check up with my GP and he informed me that a small shadow showed up on my left lung. Of course, my response was what? And your telling me 4 mos later. His response was due to the report I am really not at all concerned and planned on talking to you about this at your next check-up . In his next breath he said I am going to send you for a CT scan anyhow. I asked him again if he thought I have lung cancer and he said No, I am quite confident it is nothing to worry about and I will see you in 2 weeks to go over the results of your CT scan and put your mind at ease. Just perplexed, not cancer than why the CT? Just a bit scared.
posted on Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Twitter Fri, 19 Dec 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 22 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
Yhere are many causes for small shadow in lung on chest x ray.
The common ones are
1. Fibrotic lesion.
2. Cystic lesion (benign)
3. Developing cavitory lesion.
4. Early abscess.
5. Rounded pneumonia.
6. Lung nodule (benign )
7. Lung nodule (malignant).
So CT scan is needed to rule out all these.
Characteristics of shadow on CT is very important for diagnosis like its margins, calcification is present or not, associated lymphnodes etc.
So get done CT THORAX.
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What Does Small Shadow On Left Lung Mean?

Thanks for your question on HCM. I can understand your situation and problem. Yhere are many causes for small shadow in lung on chest x ray. The common ones are 1. Fibrotic lesion. 2. Cystic lesion (benign) 3. Developing cavitory lesion. 4. Early abscess. 5. Rounded pneumonia. 6. Lung nodule (benign ) 7. Lung nodule (malignant). So CT scan is needed to rule out all these. Characteristics of shadow on CT is very important for diagnosis like its margins, calcification is present or not, associated lymphnodes etc. So get done CT THORAX.