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What Does My Lung Function Test Indicate?
Below, I ve copied and pasted the results of my chest x-ray and am concerned. Could you please translate them for me? Thank you very much. Impression: Emphysematous changes. No definite evidence of active airspace disease. Narrative Clinical History: Chronic cough. Comparison: This is compared with prior examination of 04/16/2016. Findings: The heart and mediastinum are normal. Aorta is tortuous. There are large lung volumes and emphysematous changes are seen. No infiltrates are identified. Costophrenic angles are sharp. No pneumothorax was identified. There are multiple old left healed rib fractures. P.S. I ve never been a smoker, but have been fixing up my old house in order to sell it. I ve been exposing myself to drywall dust, cellar mold, chemicals and asbestoes. (Which I now regret!) I m also a Head Start teacher and it seemed that all my students had respiratory infections this year. Now I ve had a cough and asthma that won t go away, but seems to get worse. (I also have seasonal allergies.) Thanks for your help!
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Hi,
Based on the history you have shared, since the chest X-rays or baseline workup is suggesting some changes which can be due to a disease called emphysema so work up with pulmonary function tests that are to measure flow volume loops, residual volumes, tidal volumes, vital capacity etc should be done.
Also, a concomitant HRCT chest should also be done and followed by a detailed pulmonologist review.
If infiltrative disorders like you suspect are present with relevant changes on CT scan as with restrictive pattern on pulmonary functions in which case lung biopsy may be needed then.
Though allergic exacerbation is suspected then skin tests for aspergillus may be needed too.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Saddiq Ulabidin, General & Family Physician
Based on the history you have shared, since the chest X-rays or baseline workup is suggesting some changes which can be due to a disease called emphysema so work up with pulmonary function tests that are to measure flow volume loops, residual volumes, tidal volumes, vital capacity etc should be done.
Also, a concomitant HRCT chest should also be done and followed by a detailed pulmonologist review.
If infiltrative disorders like you suspect are present with relevant changes on CT scan as with restrictive pattern on pulmonary functions in which case lung biopsy may be needed then.
Though allergic exacerbation is suspected then skin tests for aspergillus may be needed too.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Saddiq Ulabidin, General & Family Physician
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