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What Does This CT Scan Report Of The Lungs Indicate?

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Posted on Fri, 1 Jul 2016
Question: Hi, I had a CT scan which showed linear scarring in the right middle lobe. Is this anything to be concerned about?
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Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Not unless there is some lung function damage

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
Linear scarring usually occurs when people have had lung infections in the past like pneumonia. It sometimes even occurs when a person has had a subclincal (no symptoms) infection and the body has cleared the infection on its own. In that case you may not even be aware that you were infected.
If you are having shortness of breath then I suggest that you get pulmonary function testing, but the linear scarring is usually not a problem.
Because it is scarring it should not get worse over time and if it is minimal it would most likely not be a cause for problems with breathing.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Kathy Robinson

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1989

Answered : 3535 Questions

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What Does This CT Scan Report Of The Lungs Indicate?

Brief Answer: Not unless there is some lung function damage Detailed Answer: Hello and thank you for your question. Linear scarring usually occurs when people have had lung infections in the past like pneumonia. It sometimes even occurs when a person has had a subclincal (no symptoms) infection and the body has cleared the infection on its own. In that case you may not even be aware that you were infected. If you are having shortness of breath then I suggest that you get pulmonary function testing, but the linear scarring is usually not a problem. Because it is scarring it should not get worse over time and if it is minimal it would most likely not be a cause for problems with breathing. Please let me know if you have further questions. Regards, Dr. Robinson