CT of lung

cig19335 · New User Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

I have a 12mm x 9mm ill defined opacity in my lung. I was asking my doc questions about the cat scan, he himmed and hawed and never answered.

My cat scan, the frontal view, the one showing both lungs and the mediastium from the front.......well mine shows what appears to be an outline in black. It looks like someone took a black crayon and outlined the aortic knob, then it stops, then at the heart border it starts again and outlines the heart and then it also outlines the hemidiaphrams The left side, this start about half way down the vertebral column, outlines heart then diaphram.

If I knew how to post pics I could post a pic but I don't.

Anyway, does anyone know what this outlining is?

Thanks muchly!

leo · Owner Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

This is only a general layout of your chest, used to guide the radiologist to where to scan, where to start the scan, etc. This is not looked at for diagnosis, only the cross-sections are used. I can not answer what you are looking at, but I would leave it to the radiologist. There are a lot of nuances that are difficult to interpret, so anyone that is not trained to do this should not try to interpret scans. Like you said, your doctor should have explained to you in general terms, the nodule, etc.

best regards,
Leo
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Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

cig19335 · New User Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

Thank you Leo,

For all I know, the outlining is to aide in reading and not pertinent to my condition.

I didn't pose any questions about the nodule, couldn't think of any. What I was really interested in was the outlining.

I'm still searching, I know I'll find it, I just don't have the correct name.

But....thanks again Leo.

leo · Owner Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

You're right, the outlining that they get which looks like a chest x-ray is only to orient people. All CT scans have one of those.

Did your doc discuss it with you ?! It's been a week since your post. I wish you the best. Lung nodules can often be observed if they don't have characteristics that are worrisome.

best regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

cig19335 · New User Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

Thank you Leo!

I did have a PET/CAT this past Friday. I do not know the results yet. I selected the PET/CAT over a brocoscope as I felt it would give a better idea of whole body problems, even though the pulmonary doctor felt I should do a biopsy which would be more conclusive.

Thanks for your well wishes and I will post again after results are in.

leo · Owner Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Sounds good ! Good luck !

regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

cig19335 · New User Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

Leo,
Good news is that there are no FDG avid malignancies!

I have one more problem though. There is FDG activity, which, as you know, can have various causes.

Presently I am trying to find a PET/CAT specialist who might be able to give us some ideas as to what the increased activity is. I do have the studies on disc. Would you happen to know where I can send them to have them analyzed as to the possible causes of this activity? Basically, it would almost be like a second opinion, but with more specific information on the secondary reasons for this uptake. I would, of course pay for this report/second opinion.

I did discuss this with my doctor and he didn't, at present, have any recommendations of experts in the field of PeT/CAT studies. I told him I would try to get some names but now realize, I don't really know exactly who I am looking for and what their title would be. Nor do I know , as a layperson, how to find experts in this field. I do know that I would want someone not involved in our health care system. I would want someone who is out of the HUP health care system, probably out of the state of PA.

Any ideas?

Thanks again Leo. Sure hope you have seen reports of nuclear specialist that you can share.

leo · Owner Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

You could try to send it to Mayo Clinic to be read. But I am not sure if this will help, since the radiologist will only detail what he sees, and can only speculate what that is. What you might really need is a clinician who can review your case with you and give you an opinion on what he thinks it might be and what to do.

best regards,
Leo
_________________
Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

cig19335 · New User Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

Thanks again Leo. Mayo just might be a first place to start.

Leo, I am thinking the pulmonologist is not a clincian as, he said he would not like to guess at it. Who would be a clinician? Do I need to look for a particular type of doctor, such as an Internal Medicine Doctor?

cindy

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