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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Shoulder Pain And Soft Tissue Density In Right Lung?

After being sick for a few days my mother complained of a pain in her shoulder. She went to the doctor and after a x-ray he found a soft tissue density in the right lung. My mother has never smoked & has no history of lung cancer in the family. Nominally, are soft tissue densities more or less likely to be Benign or Malignant? She will go for a Cat Scan tommorrow, but I am just nervous!
Tue, 27 Jan 2015
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi1
Welcome to HCM!

You must take your mother for CT Scan.

As per the problems mentioned in your question and the chest x-ray findings, I am of the opinion that your mother might be having a tumor ( suspected to be a malignant)..This tumor is known as Pancoast tumor which typically develops in the apex of the lungs it rarely causes symptoms that are typically related to the lungs (e.g. cough, chest pain).

The initial symptom is pain in the shoulder, inner part of the scapula (large, triangular, flattened bone that lies over the ribs on the back), or both.
The pain may later extend to the inner side of the arm, elbow and the little and ring fingers as a result of damage to the afferent pain fibers of the sympathetic trunk.
This cancer can develop in non smokers.
Risk factors include prior prolonged asbestos exposure, exposure to industrial elements (eg, gold, nickel), smoking, and secondary smoke exposure.
These tumors are effectively managed by Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy with Surgery.

Kindly consult your GP for further management.

Wishing your mother a speedy recovery from her illness.
Regards!

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What Causes Shoulder Pain And Soft Tissue Density In Right Lung?

Hi1 Welcome to HCM! You must take your mother for CT Scan. As per the problems mentioned in your question and the chest x-ray findings, I am of the opinion that your mother might be having a tumor ( suspected to be a malignant)..This tumor is known as Pancoast tumor which typically develops in the apex of the lungs it rarely causes symptoms that are typically related to the lungs (e.g. cough, chest pain). The initial symptom is pain in the shoulder, inner part of the scapula (large, triangular, flattened bone that lies over the ribs on the back), or both. The pain may later extend to the inner side of the arm, elbow and the little and ring fingers as a result of damage to the afferent pain fibers of the sympathetic trunk. This cancer can develop in non smokers. Risk factors include prior prolonged asbestos exposure, exposure to industrial elements (eg, gold, nickel), smoking, and secondary smoke exposure. These tumors are effectively managed by Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy with Surgery. Kindly consult your GP for further management. Wishing your mother a speedy recovery from her illness. Regards!