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What Does My X-ray Report Indicate?
Question: Had a bout of the flu. Went to the doctor. Chest x-ray, clear, but days later said hyperinflation "suggested" COPD. My primary doctor conferred with the radiologist and said, no COPD. Hyperinflation may be due to coughing and flu symptoms?
Xray also said:
No enlagargment of the cardiac silhouette. Minor chronic fibrotic changes in the lungs. No acute infiltrate. No edema or pleural effusions.
My primary DR. seems not to concerned. I am still coughing after 10 days of the flu, temp reached 102.4 but, subsided 5 days ago.
Xray also said:
No enlagargment of the cardiac silhouette. Minor chronic fibrotic changes in the lungs. No acute infiltrate. No edema or pleural effusions.
My primary DR. seems not to concerned. I am still coughing after 10 days of the flu, temp reached 102.4 but, subsided 5 days ago.
Brief Answer:
If there is continuous fever and worsening, rule out bacterial infections.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Chest X ray findings of hyperinflation and COPD changes are to be handles with care and must always be related to the patient conditions. Hyperinflation basically means that the lungs are inflated more than normal and this can also be considered normal in some individuals who take a deep breath while taking chest X ray and also in those due to cough and flu. This is not a concern in your case.
Rest of the Chest X ray indicates the presence of chronic fibrotic changes in lungs. This might be from an earlier respiratory infection which has healed over time but showing persistent lung changes. This can also be the reason for your hyperinflated lungs.
Since your primary care doctor has diagnosed a flu and there being no significant findings on chest X ray, they might be offering a more symptom based approach to treatment.
Mucinex (Musinex) is an expectorant and helps in thinning mucus (phlegm) and reducing chest congestion. In sever flu, at times cough can extend for over a week or ten days. However should you have continuous fever and worsening of symptoms including the cough, a blood culture test might be indicated to know if you have developed any secondary bacterial infections due to the flu. If found positive for bacterial infection, treatment with antibiotics can be started. You must continue taking supportive measures like Mucinex and doing throat gargles to make yourself comfortable.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
If there is continuous fever and worsening, rule out bacterial infections.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Chest X ray findings of hyperinflation and COPD changes are to be handles with care and must always be related to the patient conditions. Hyperinflation basically means that the lungs are inflated more than normal and this can also be considered normal in some individuals who take a deep breath while taking chest X ray and also in those due to cough and flu. This is not a concern in your case.
Rest of the Chest X ray indicates the presence of chronic fibrotic changes in lungs. This might be from an earlier respiratory infection which has healed over time but showing persistent lung changes. This can also be the reason for your hyperinflated lungs.
Since your primary care doctor has diagnosed a flu and there being no significant findings on chest X ray, they might be offering a more symptom based approach to treatment.
Mucinex (Musinex) is an expectorant and helps in thinning mucus (phlegm) and reducing chest congestion. In sever flu, at times cough can extend for over a week or ten days. However should you have continuous fever and worsening of symptoms including the cough, a blood culture test might be indicated to know if you have developed any secondary bacterial infections due to the flu. If found positive for bacterial infection, treatment with antibiotics can be started. You must continue taking supportive measures like Mucinex and doing throat gargles to make yourself comfortable.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you for your answer.
I had a CBC, all were in the normal ranges for the most part.
WHITE BLOOD COUNT 4.5-11.0 thou/cu mm 5.4
RED BLOOD COUNT 4.00-5.20 mil/cu mm 4.18
HEMOGLOBIN 12.0-16.0 g/dL 14.2
HEMATOCRIT 33.0-51.0 % 41.7
MCV 80-100 fL 100
MCH 26.0-34.0 pg 34.0
MCHC 32.0-36.0 g/dL 34.1
RDW 11.5-15.5 % 12.1
PLATELET COUNT 140-440 thou/cu mm 215
MPV 6.5-11.0 fL 9.1
NEUTROPHILS 42.0-72.0 % 71.8
LYMPHOCYTES 20.0-44.0 % 15.3
MONOCYTES <12.0 % 12.7
EOSINOPHILS <8.0 % 0.0
BASOPHILS <3.0 % 0.2
ABSOLUTE NEUTROPHILS 1.7-7.0 thou/cu mm 3.9
ABSOLUTE LYMPHOCYTES 0.9-2.9 thou/cu mm 0.8
ABSOLUTE MONOCYTES <0.9 thou/cu mm 0.7
ABSOLUTE EOSINOPHILS <0.5 thou/cu mm 0.0
ABSOLUTE BASOPHILS <0.3 thou/cu mm 0.0
My xray Findings: Lungs hyperinflated suggesting COPD. No enlargement of the cardiac silhouette. Some minor chronic fibrotic changes in the lungs. No acute infiltrate. No edema or pleural effusions.
I had a CBC, all were in the normal ranges for the most part.
WHITE BLOOD COUNT 4.5-11.0 thou/cu mm 5.4
RED BLOOD COUNT 4.00-5.20 mil/cu mm 4.18
HEMOGLOBIN 12.0-16.0 g/dL 14.2
HEMATOCRIT 33.0-51.0 % 41.7
MCV 80-100 fL 100
MCH 26.0-34.0 pg 34.0
MCHC 32.0-36.0 g/dL 34.1
RDW 11.5-15.5 % 12.1
PLATELET COUNT 140-440 thou/cu mm 215
MPV 6.5-11.0 fL 9.1
NEUTROPHILS 42.0-72.0 % 71.8
LYMPHOCYTES 20.0-44.0 % 15.3
MONOCYTES <12.0 % 12.7
EOSINOPHILS <8.0 % 0.0
BASOPHILS <3.0 % 0.2
ABSOLUTE NEUTROPHILS 1.7-7.0 thou/cu mm 3.9
ABSOLUTE LYMPHOCYTES 0.9-2.9 thou/cu mm 0.8
ABSOLUTE MONOCYTES <0.9 thou/cu mm 0.7
ABSOLUTE EOSINOPHILS <0.5 thou/cu mm 0.0
ABSOLUTE BASOPHILS <0.3 thou/cu mm 0.0
My xray Findings: Lungs hyperinflated suggesting COPD. No enlargement of the cardiac silhouette. Some minor chronic fibrotic changes in the lungs. No acute infiltrate. No edema or pleural effusions.
Brief Answer:
Blood tests reveal no acute bacterial infections.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.
From the reports, I find that except lymphocytes, rest of the components are in normal range. The lymphocytes can vary slightly during the flu and are also related to reduced food intake and stress in some patients. If the CBC was done recently and there is no significant worsening in your clinical symptoms (and probably the reason your doctor does not seem concerned) then supportive treatment is best for you.
Since eopsinophils are normal, it is unlikely that your cough is due to an allergy.
The X ray findings do not suggest any active infection going by above mentioned findings. Whatever changes are mentioned are most likely due to earlier infections, possible months to years back. If you are in the habit of smoking then reducing it might help.
Healthy food and keeping your stress levels low might help you to recover quickly. As mentioned earlier, throat gargles twice a day will soothe your throat and decrease intensity of cough.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Blood tests reveal no acute bacterial infections.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.
From the reports, I find that except lymphocytes, rest of the components are in normal range. The lymphocytes can vary slightly during the flu and are also related to reduced food intake and stress in some patients. If the CBC was done recently and there is no significant worsening in your clinical symptoms (and probably the reason your doctor does not seem concerned) then supportive treatment is best for you.
Since eopsinophils are normal, it is unlikely that your cough is due to an allergy.
The X ray findings do not suggest any active infection going by above mentioned findings. Whatever changes are mentioned are most likely due to earlier infections, possible months to years back. If you are in the habit of smoking then reducing it might help.
Healthy food and keeping your stress levels low might help you to recover quickly. As mentioned earlier, throat gargles twice a day will soothe your throat and decrease intensity of cough.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you so much.
So, you do not think, from the x-ray comments and CBC that I have COPD? That was what is most concerning to me at this time. I was so shocked to see the diagnosis from the xray tech that read the xray.
Thank you,
Cindy
So, you do not think, from the x-ray comments and CBC that I have COPD? That was what is most concerning to me at this time. I was so shocked to see the diagnosis from the xray tech that read the xray.
Thank you,
Cindy
Brief Answer:
COPD diagnosis confirmed by symptoms, Chest X ray and lung function tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Please do not get worried about diagnosis of COPD made on your chest X ray. In my experience COPD is one of the commonly over diagnosed conditions on X ray. This must be done with care and after taking detailed clinical history. If there is a suspicion on COPD based on symptoms and X ray findings then evaluation by doing lung function tests is important. In this the breathing volumes are measured and lung capacity is known. Only if these lung function tests are indicative of COPD then a CT scan chest is required to know the lung changes in detail
Common COPD symptoms are the following:
(i) Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
(ii) Wheezing
(iii) Chest tightness
(iv) Having to clear your throat first thing in the morning, due to excess mucus in your lungs
(v) A chronic cough that produces sputum that may be clear, white, yellow or greenish
(vi) Blueness of the lips or fingernail beds (cyanosis)
(vii) Frequent respiratory infections
You can attach your chest X ray picture to this query if you wish to have it viewed by me.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
COPD diagnosis confirmed by symptoms, Chest X ray and lung function tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Please do not get worried about diagnosis of COPD made on your chest X ray. In my experience COPD is one of the commonly over diagnosed conditions on X ray. This must be done with care and after taking detailed clinical history. If there is a suspicion on COPD based on symptoms and X ray findings then evaluation by doing lung function tests is important. In this the breathing volumes are measured and lung capacity is known. Only if these lung function tests are indicative of COPD then a CT scan chest is required to know the lung changes in detail
Common COPD symptoms are the following:
(i) Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
(ii) Wheezing
(iii) Chest tightness
(iv) Having to clear your throat first thing in the morning, due to excess mucus in your lungs
(v) A chronic cough that produces sputum that may be clear, white, yellow or greenish
(vi) Blueness of the lips or fingernail beds (cyanosis)
(vii) Frequent respiratory infections
You can attach your chest X ray picture to this query if you wish to have it viewed by me.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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