Question:

I had a catscan done recently and the results were mailed to me. I was wondering if you could put the results in lamens terms, so I can understand them. I have a 5mm subpleural nodular opacity at the posterior right lung base, likely focal atelectasis, non-calcified granuloma, or intraparenchymal lymph node. Also, neoplasm cannot be entirely excluded. However, I do not know what any of these terms really mean. Please help!!! Or direct me in the right direction of a website that will!! Thank you..

Answer:

CAT scans (sometimes called CT scans) are really just fancy xrays. The difference is that the CAT scanner can obtain multiple images in different orientations, then use a computer to reconstruct a more detailed `slice` through the body. The important thing to remember, though, is that xrays (including CAT scans) don`t actually `see` structures in the body; rather, they `see` the `shadows` that these structures cast in the xray beam. While modern technology has greatly improved the ability of a trained radiologist to interpret these shadows, it is impossible for anyone to say with absolute certainty whether a particular shadow (in your case, the opacity) is caused by a tumor, a benign lesion, or anything else.

A nodular opacity simply means the shadow appears round, like a nodule. 5 mm (about a quarter inch) is quite small, and is not usually the kind of thing doctors worry a great deal about. Of course, based upon the discussion above, it is impossible to say that this particular 5 mm nodule is not an early cancer, but by the description you gave your doctors feel that it more likely represents something benign. Benign lesions that can appear as nodules include focal atelectasis (a small area of collapsed lung that is usually of no major consequence), granulomas (small areas of residual scarring and reaction to an old infection or the like- these are very common in certain parts of the country), and intraparenchymal lymph nodes (the normal lymph nodes of the lung). Depending upon your risk factors for lung cancer (such as age and whether or not you smoke), your doctors will probably recommend doing nothing, or at most repeating the CT scan several months from now to see if the nodule has changed in appearance. If you are at higher risk, one might, under certain cicrcumstances, suggest a biopsy or even a resection, but this would be unusual for such a small lesion. My only concern based upon your description is that you did not mention why you got a CT scan in the first place. If indeed the reason for the scan was unrelated to the nodule, and the finding of the nodule was incidental, I suspect your doctors will recommend some form of followup. Of course, be sure to get the official word from them!

For more information:

Go to the Lung diseases health topic.