Question:

My co-employees have parenchymal scars on left upper lobe. They were exposed to chemicals used for making soap, and the other one smokes. Does it have any connection for having a scar? Can this be treated or diminished after long time? Please help and thank you.

Answer:

The word scar implies that some acute injury to the lung occurred, like pneumonia, tuberculosis, a chemical exposure with lung reaction and that as the lung healed a mark was left that can be seen on the chest x ray. They typically do not go away. Also if they are small reactions, most scars in the lung do not cause symptoms to the patient.

For more information:

Go to the Tuberculosis health topic.