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What Does " Trace Of Pleural Effusion Non Specific Was Seen" Mean?

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Posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Question: Hi I had a chest xray that said lungs clear.But a trace of pleural effusion non specific was seen. I was getting pain in upper right abdomen when taking a big breath. Im concerned it could mean lung cancer.My doctor does not seem worried. What should I do. Thanks XXXXXXX
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Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Detailed below. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. Please note that chest X-ray is not a good test to detect lungs cancer. Its because it can only show large lesions. And large lesion is usually an advanced type of cancer. Lung cancer is usually seen as a circular shadow. Pleural effusion is usually caused by some post inflammatory changes. It does not indicate cancer. But even if your X-ray is clear, this does not rule the cancer out. If you smoke, to make sure, you should have chest CT every two years. Also if you are feared of this cancer, this test is the best way to rule it out. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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What Does " Trace Of Pleural Effusion Non Specific Was Seen" Mean?

Brief Answer: Detailed below. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. Please note that chest X-ray is not a good test to detect lungs cancer. Its because it can only show large lesions. And large lesion is usually an advanced type of cancer. Lung cancer is usually seen as a circular shadow. Pleural effusion is usually caused by some post inflammatory changes. It does not indicate cancer. But even if your X-ray is clear, this does not rule the cancer out. If you smoke, to make sure, you should have chest CT every two years. Also if you are feared of this cancer, this test is the best way to rule it out. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.