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Speculated opacities
After my last ct scan they discovered 3 different speculated opacities’s 2 in the right lung and 1 in my left lung. I had a cat. Scan prior to this one occurred just 3 months prior (it was negative). Between the 2 cat. Scans I suffered a bad bout of pneumonia. Everything I read about this malady speaks about cancer. I have a Pet scheduled but I’m really nervous about how it will read. Anyone else have to deal with this condition, maybe give me some pointers on how to deal with what may come next.
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@jillzizzo29 How worrisome! That is why Dr Google concerns me though it scares people without knowing context of your situation or being familiar with the specific radiologist's use of terms.
An "opacity" is a hazy, grayish area that partially obscures a good view in a lung image, similar to frosted (or ground) privacy glass in a window. Typically this would be reported as a "ground glass opacity".
A "nodule" is a round(ish) white image surrounded by dark lung tissue.
"Spiculated" means instead of being smooth, the margins of the area being described are irregular (or spiky.)
If you had a clear scan 3 months ago, followed by pneumonia, chances are the spiculated opacities are what are typically called "ground glass opacities" which are artifacts (leftovers) of infected material that will eventually clear. If, on the other hand it says "spiculated nodules" those are more permanent and possibly more concerning.
Do you have underlying conditions that make you more likely to develop cancer in your lungs?
Both the dr. And I are hoping that the Spiculated opaciates are in fact the spikey ones. This is what is so concerning. I have copd and moderate to severe emphysema ( one of the ground glass kind that turned into the Spiculated nodule. The problem is I’m scared and I guess I just wanted to hear exactly what you said. Thank you