Ground Glass - Scared

Hi @maggie1955 , how are you doing? Are you still searching for another doctor? Still scheduled for a scan in November?

What is a ground glass opacity? Those docs sure know how to scare a person! This doesn't mean there is glass, or anything else sharp or abrasive in your lungs. On an x-ray or CT, it is an area in the lung where the tissue isn't clearly visible due to what my pcp calls a "debris field." Typically, in an otherwise healthy individual with a recent history of a lung infection, it is truly that - the remains of fluid, mucus and infection cells that has not completely cleared.

Why a six-month follow-up? The body takes several months to eliminate all the residue - some is coughed out but you may not even notice it, it is part of your typical daily breathing cycle. The rest is absorbed into the bloodstream and eliminated through body waste. A small residue may remain as scar tissue, depending n the severity of the infection.

What is the takeaway? Your docs are right - if you are otherwise healthy, this is nothing to worry about. It is just a temporary remnant of your lung infection.

What can you do? Repeated infections can lead to lung diseases later in life. You know you have sensitive lungs, so you need to protect them from further assaults. Remember those N-95 masks on the shelf since Covid subsided? Use them! When there are Air Quality alerts due to the smoke. When you are doing dusty tasks. When you are cleaning rain gutters or other wise dealing with possible mold. When you are sawing or sanding. When your are raking, blowing leaves and debris, even mowing... Yes, they are hot and annoying (but you can use the ones with a valve to make it easier to breathe.)

So now, relax, take a deep breath, mark 6 months on your calendar for the followup, and get on with your life. Stay away from Dr. Google, too.
Come on back if you have more questions.
Sue

Update - Spoke with my Pulmonologist a few weeks ago regarding this issue. A Chest scan is scheduled for next week.

Originally I had a Calcium Score Test (measures cardiac risk) - CT for Heart. This test focuses on the heart, so it only has 30% - -35% of the lungs. Sure it picks up the entire lungs, but only that part is in focus.

What did the Doctor say? She took a look at the image / as stated scheduled a follow up CT. Asked her about cancer she said there is nothing in this scan that would make her think this is Cancer. She said that the formation etc. usually follows an infection or some sort of thing like that. Again, I was sick 1.5 weeks prior to the exam (green / brown mucus for days) and still had a dry cough 6 days prior to the CT scan.

She also stated that I fall under the low risk. What exactly is low risk? What % are we talking. She also said since I was asking so many questions that if for some reason it was a cancer it would be easily removed.

All the doctors etc, so GGO are for the most part non cancerous. They are really not a concern especially mine; however, if I go on other forums so many people were diagnosed with GGO's that were cancerous. Note: I did not find any that had only patchy GGO which I was told is a common formation of a past infection.

I am just having a tough time at this point.