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Avatar universal

Help with Chest CT-Scan

Hi,
    Since about last year, I noticed a sensation of a "lump" in my throat when I swallowed.  I went to my ENT and he said I have a mild Laryngopharangeal Reflux, not GERD, because I don't get heartburn. .
     I was a bit scared last month when I had trouble breathing lying down.  I initially thought that this coupled with a cough could be bronchitis/pneumonia.  Though I had no fever.  So I went to the Pulmonologist.  The Pulmonologist didn't see anything in particular and took a chest x-ray at my request.  It came back negative.  He didn't see fluid or any problems.  He prescribed me avelox for 10 days.  I felt better, but he told me to call him since I told him I may have seen a "red" tinge (blood) in my sputum.  Although I believe now that this red tinge was from clearing my nose, I called the doctor later on and told him I saw some more of the red in my sputum and he said to get a chest ct-scan without contrast.  I did and received the following results in a nutshell:
     "Thyroid is normal.  Small posibility of gynecomastia (enlareged male mammary glands, I am overweight).  No axillary, mediastinal or gross hilar lymphadenopathy.  Subcentimeter pretracheal lymph nodes are not enlarged.  Heart not enlarged.  Central airway is patent.  No consolidation, pleual effusion, or pneumothorax.  There is a 0.4cm (4mm) nodular density along the inferior surface of the right minor fissure, which could represent focal pleural thickening, an intrafissural lymph node or subcentimeter juxtafissural nodule (<--- this is what concerned me)  Upper abdominal organs are unremarkable.  Osseous structures are unremarkable."
     The first pulmonologist told me this nodular density could be a scar left from a previous infection, there since birth, hard to say, probably nothing and to follow up with another ct-scan in 3 months.  However, I'm a worrier, so I got a second opinion.  The second Pulmonologist told me it is nothing to worry about and put the copy of the ct scan away for my records if I needed it for some reason in 20 years.  However, again, I'm a worrier and the fact that the first pulmonologist told me I have to follow up in 3 months worries me.
     I am 30 years old.  I'm 5'11", weight about 215, I'm overweight.  I do not smoke.  I have had a polyurethane business for about a few months which is well maintained and no materials we use are carcinogenic.  I am a non-smoker.  Do you think there is any cause for alarm.  Your responses are much appreciated and thanks in advance.
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Avatar universal
I have also recently been told I have scarring on the lungs, and like you are a worrier.  I have been booked a scan 3 months after having the news.  My consultant did say that he had looked at the scarring and was happy that there was nothing untoward.  I sympathise with you, because however much my medical team reassure me that they would be suprised that anyting is wrong I cannot rest until I have that scan.  Your note has helped to reassure me seeing that scarring can be there from birth and can be quite normal.
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Avatar universal
You want to stick w/ the first Dr. It is more then likely not anything to worry about. The chance of it being cancer is slim because it is so small. The reason they follow it is in case it grows and happens to be something they will catch it early. I too have nodules that are being followed and I too am a worrier and stick with getting rechecked to make sure they do not change. You are suppose to follow them for 2 years w/ no change before they can say for sure that it is benign. So dont worry cause it is common but  follow up
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