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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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IS X-ray Impression Of PTB Minimal Wrong If Sputum Result And PPD Skin Test Are Negative?

Hi,
I am 25 years old and was very surprised to find out that my pre-employment x-ray impression was PTB minimal. I went to a Pulmonologist and had the PPD skin test. The result was negative. I also had the sputum exam, and I'm now waiting for the result. I don't have any symptoms at all. I'm healthy as a horse. If my sputum result turns out to be negative, does that mean that I may have had wrong x-ray interpretation?
Also, I opted to have another chest x-ray from a reputable hospital with known quality standards, and will be getting my result tomorrow.
I am really anxious and depressed since that radiographic finding has cost me my job.
I sincerely hope you could enlighten me on this.
Thank you so much.
Wed, 4 Dec 2013
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Minimal PTB in the abscence of symptoms and negative sputum and PPD may be because of old healed Pul TB. You may have contracted PTB some time earlier which may have healed on its own due to your good immunity and being minimal in intensity. It may only be the scarctissue of a healed lesion. Your pulmonologist should be able to enlighten you whether you need treatment or not.
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IS X-ray Impression Of PTB Minimal Wrong If Sputum Result And PPD Skin Test Are Negative?

Minimal PTB in the abscence of symptoms and negative sputum and PPD may be because of old healed Pul TB. You may have contracted PTB some time earlier which may have healed on its own due to your good immunity and being minimal in intensity. It may only be the scarctissue of a healed lesion. Your pulmonologist should be able to enlighten you whether you need treatment or not.