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ground glass lung disease with reticulations
My Ct scan says ground glass lung disease with reticulations. It also says atelactasis in the right middle lobe and the angula (left bottom of the top lobe). I have a 2 mm nodule in the bottom right lobe. I am being referred to a pulmonologist but have not seen one yet. What are the chances this is lung cancer?
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There are several things this could be. Unfortunately, we are patients, not clinicians. There's really not enough information to to give anything but a bad guess.
Please let us know what the pulmonologist says.
@arneyma AS @denzie said, we are not doctors, but I can tell you that "ground glass" is not a lung disease. It is an indication of a current or prior infection or lung inflammation. It simply means there is a "gray area" on the image.
Nodules, particularly small round ones (2mm is less than 1/10 inch) are usually not cancer, but indication of an infection.
Atelectasis is collapsed lung tissue from an infection or foreign body. Here is a description from Mayo:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atelectasis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369684
All of this sounds like a description of "messy lungs" like may of us have here - the product of repeated infections, lifelong asthma or other lund inflammation.
With so many different things going on, you will probably be diagnosed with a chronic lung condition like bronchiectasis, atele)tasis or COPD. Make sure you are seeing a pulmonologist experienced in treating your specific condition.
PS Ground glass opacities and tiny nodules cannot be biopsies, but if the pulmonologist is concerned they will watch and probably repeat CT scans every year or 6 months.
Thank you for the comment. On my CT scan it says ground glass lung disease which is why I phrased it that way. That is what the radiologist called it. I’ve done a lot of research and a lot says that it either is or can lead to lung cancer. Which is why I asked. I have not ever had asthma or lung issues in the past. I was referred to a pulmonologist but thought I’d ask here since sometimes there are doctors or medical people on these forums. Thank you for helping!