Resolved question:
I was diagnosed via a chest xray and ct scan with pneumonia. However, I am wondering if it could be lung cancer. I have had two follow up xrays and they are clear. Would it be possible for cancer to show up on initial xray and then not appear on follow up? Radiologists did have initial film and scan to compare to follow up xrays.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Pulmonologist
Dear patient,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
Regards from our team. Going through your mail, I wish to say It's the other way round. Cancer is suspected only when there is non resolving consolidation on chest xray.
So if subsequent x rays showed x ray clearance, then cancer is unlikely or rather impossible.
Happy Sunday.
Regards
Dr. Jacob George P
MD, IDCCM, FCCP
Thank you for your answer. So you are saying that something that showed up on initial xray could not have been missed on two follow-up xrays.(read by two different radiologists). Since the radiologists had the initial xray to compare I am guessing that this would not be the case.
Dear patient,
As I initially mentioned, when you have a previous x-ray that showed a consolidation, it is impossible to miss that on follow-up x rays.
Moreover, the consolidation must be substantially cleared so that they could not pick up the residual changes/ there were no residual changes. Both suggest that there is no malignant process going on in your lungs at present.
Regards
Jacob George P
MD,IDCCM, FCCP