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Does Tumour Cause Backache, Breathlessness And Atelectasis In The Lungs?

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Posted on Tue, 12 Dec 2023
Question: i recently got an xray they said it was bland of linear density in the left lung base suggesting scarring or platelike atelectasis i have been coughing been on antibotics back pain shortness of breathe after running high heart rate blood pressure was 140/90 does this mean i have a tumor cancer
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:

Not the most common cause, may be due to infection

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

No this does not mean that you have cancer. Atelectasis refers to collapse of an area of the lung.

There are many different causes, the most common are-

(1) Plugs of airways by tenacious sputum.

(2) Foreign body/object in the lungs- this means an object is accidentally inhaled eg nuts, seeds, bone fragments from meat etc.

(3) A tumour

A tumour is one of the causes but it is not the most common at all and there are other causes not mentioned here eg fungal chest infection

It is possible, with your history of cough/cold requiring antibiotics and the fact that you do NOT smoke, that the infection extended to the chest and a mucus plug resulted in the collapse.

Your doctor may want to do a repeat chest X-ray or CT after your symptoms resolve.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Michelle Gibson James, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Does Tumour Cause Backache, Breathlessness And Atelectasis In The Lungs?

Brief Answer: Not the most common cause, may be due to infection Detailed Answer: Hi, No this does not mean that you have cancer. Atelectasis refers to collapse of an area of the lung. There are many different causes, the most common are- (1) Plugs of airways by tenacious sputum. (2) Foreign body/object in the lungs- this means an object is accidentally inhaled eg nuts, seeds, bone fragments from meat etc. (3) A tumour A tumour is one of the causes but it is not the most common at all and there are other causes not mentioned here eg fungal chest infection It is possible, with your history of cough/cold requiring antibiotics and the fact that you do NOT smoke, that the infection extended to the chest and a mucus plug resulted in the collapse. Your doctor may want to do a repeat chest X-ray or CT after your symptoms resolve. Hope I have answered your query. Take care Regards, Dr Michelle Gibson James, General & Family Physician