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What Does The Chest X-ray Report Indicate?
Question: I had a chest xray done for heart palpatations. It says: Emphysematous changes of the lungs are suspected. There is some minimal biapical pleural parenchymal scarring. Heart is normal in size. There is no effusion. Bony structures appear grossly intact. I have never smoked, exercise and eat very healthy. My parents smoked, but that was over 40 years ago. How concerned should I be?
Brief Answer:
PFTs and HRCT to confirm , in consult with a pulmonologist
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
You should ask your doctor to confirm the diagnosis, first to be more sure or to allay your concerns to rest. Emphysema is a form/type of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease commonly abbreviated as COPD . A chest X ray is the best initial test in suspected emphysema to rule out any chest infection and to look for hyper inflated lungs and other radiological signs consistent with emphysema. A high resolution CT scan is more sensitive in the diagnosis of emphysema by detecting the characteristic bullae associated with the disease. Pulmonary function tests should be done to demonstrate the obstructive pattern of lung disease and to stage it as well by measuring the FEV 1 which is the volume exhaled during the first second of a forced expiration starting from the level of total lung capacity. Please consult a pulmonologist to confirm the diagnosis as a chest x ray alone should not be used to confirm a diagnosis of emphysema beyond doubt.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
PFTs and HRCT to confirm , in consult with a pulmonologist
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
You should ask your doctor to confirm the diagnosis, first to be more sure or to allay your concerns to rest. Emphysema is a form/type of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease commonly abbreviated as COPD . A chest X ray is the best initial test in suspected emphysema to rule out any chest infection and to look for hyper inflated lungs and other radiological signs consistent with emphysema. A high resolution CT scan is more sensitive in the diagnosis of emphysema by detecting the characteristic bullae associated with the disease. Pulmonary function tests should be done to demonstrate the obstructive pattern of lung disease and to stage it as well by measuring the FEV 1 which is the volume exhaled during the first second of a forced expiration starting from the level of total lung capacity. Please consult a pulmonologist to confirm the diagnosis as a chest x ray alone should not be used to confirm a diagnosis of emphysema beyond doubt.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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