#27193 02-17-2005 03:13 PM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 316 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 316 | Hi all, Just had my first chest X-ray since the one prior to surgery, November 03, which was clear, (of course I had to open the envelope before seeing the "Nose Scoper" next week!  ). I'm wondering if anyone else has had this result, and has any idea what it may mean in the long term: "There appear to be some emphysematous changes particularly in the upper right lobe, but apart from this no other specific abnormality is seen." Cheers! Tizz 
End of Radiation - the "Ides of March" 2004 :-)
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#27194 02-17-2005 03:44 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 218 | Hi Tizz,
While you really need a doctor to intrepret this result for your personal situation, emphysematous changes might be more comprehensible if it said emphysema-like changes.
These changes, according to my trusty medical dictionary, indicate an increase in the size of the air space of a lung and can be caused by damage to the alveolar wall. Was the upper right lobe in the radiation field? If yes, it could be that there was some damage to these tissues as a result of the rad treatment.
It may mean that you'll have to pay very close attention to any respiratory infections that you encounter down the road, but your doctor should be able to interpret the results in a way that is helpful to you. The good news is a lack of malignancy.
I have a somewhat similary situation in that my last CT scan indicated a tiny spot on my lung that the radiation oncologist says is not cancer but something to keep an eye on. Go figure.
Best, Sheldon
Dx 1/29/04, SCC, T2N0M0
Tx 2/12/04 Surgery, 4/15/04 66 Gy. radiation (36 sessions)
Dx 3/15/2016, SCC, pT1NX
Tx 3/29/16 Surgery
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#27195 02-17-2005 03:47 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | While I am not a big proponent of conventional chest x rays after treatment to look for things, and favor a spiral CT of the lungs as more accurate and telling at an early time if a problem exists, what you have seen is pretty common. Radiation damage to the upper lobes of the lungs (upper one third in my case) appears to a radiologist as something he needs to comment on. Even if this abnormality is a result of treatment - it is his responsibility to mention everything he sees.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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#27196 02-17-2005 04:06 PM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 316 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 316 | Thanks guys, one less thing to think about...  Cheers! Tizz 
End of Radiation - the "Ides of March" 2004 :-)
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