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What Does My X-ray Report Test Report Indicate?

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Posted on Wed, 18 Feb 2015
Question: I just received x-ray report that states they found pulmonary hyperexpansion without other acute cardiopulmonary process seen. What exactly does that mean? When should I be concerned and our other tests necessary?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Obstructive pulmonary disease.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome to Healthcare Magic.

I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
Pulmonary hyperexpansion on chest X-ray means that your lungs are hyperexpanded ,they contain more air that they should do.
Usually this is a sign suggestive for obstructive airways disease.
In these diseases ,lungs are hyperinflated (contain more air than normal) because there are obstructions in small airways that makes more difficult to get the air out of the lungs.At the end of a full exhalation, an abnormally high amount of air may still remain in the lungs, so the air gets trapped within lung and causes expansion.
The fact that no acute cardiopulmonary process is seen in chest X-ray means that the cause of such hyperexpansion is not an acute cardiac or pulmonary disease.This means that the cause might be a chronic pulmonary disease.

The most common causes of obstructive lung disease include:
1) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This include Emphysema , Chronic Bronchitis .
2) Bronchiectasis
3) Cystic fibrosis
4) Asthma.

Present symptoms and a detailed medical history are essential to understand more on the cause of this finding on chest X-ray.
If you have ever had persistent pulmonary symptoms like productive cough for long time, recurrent pulmonary infections, difficulty breathing or if you have smoked for a long time ,you might have COPD.

You need to consult a physician and run some additional tests including :
-Pulmonary function testing ( Spirometry). This test will identify if you have obstructive pulmonary disease .
-CT scan of the chest

With a detailed medical history , symptoms and the results of the previous test your doctor will decide of you need more detailed tests like bronchoscopy ,Blood test for alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency etc.


Hope it helps .Let me know if you have any other question or doubts to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further.

Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Rovena

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2013

Answered : 1243 Questions

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What Does My X-ray Report Test Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: Obstructive pulmonary disease. Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome to Healthcare Magic. I read carefully your query and understand your concern. Pulmonary hyperexpansion on chest X-ray means that your lungs are hyperexpanded ,they contain more air that they should do. Usually this is a sign suggestive for obstructive airways disease. In these diseases ,lungs are hyperinflated (contain more air than normal) because there are obstructions in small airways that makes more difficult to get the air out of the lungs.At the end of a full exhalation, an abnormally high amount of air may still remain in the lungs, so the air gets trapped within lung and causes expansion. The fact that no acute cardiopulmonary process is seen in chest X-ray means that the cause of such hyperexpansion is not an acute cardiac or pulmonary disease.This means that the cause might be a chronic pulmonary disease. The most common causes of obstructive lung disease include: 1) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This include Emphysema , Chronic Bronchitis . 2) Bronchiectasis 3) Cystic fibrosis 4) Asthma. Present symptoms and a detailed medical history are essential to understand more on the cause of this finding on chest X-ray. If you have ever had persistent pulmonary symptoms like productive cough for long time, recurrent pulmonary infections, difficulty breathing or if you have smoked for a long time ,you might have COPD. You need to consult a physician and run some additional tests including : -Pulmonary function testing ( Spirometry). This test will identify if you have obstructive pulmonary disease . -CT scan of the chest With a detailed medical history , symptoms and the results of the previous test your doctor will decide of you need more detailed tests like bronchoscopy ,Blood test for alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency etc. Hope it helps .Let me know if you have any other question or doubts to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further. Kind regards, Dr.Rovena Murati