CT Scan

Hi -

I posted some time ago about problems i'd been experiencing since Jan 2012 (and got some really good help / advice) since i had a very nasty chest infection/period of breathlessness.

My consultant requested a CT scan, and the findings came back as ""unremarkable"" but noted that there were some areas of bronchodilitation in the lungs."" He seemed to think this was not a problem either now or in the future but I struggled to understand his explanation.

Any internet searching has proved fruitless & all that comes up is references to bronchiestatis!!!

Is anyone able to explain what the consultant meant.

Is it not odd to be experiencing chest tightness & wheeze if my airways are dilated?

Based on the CT scan/clear ECD and normal spirometry results, he has discharged me now putting the last few months down to flare up of broncho-hyperactivity.

I should feel reassured but I dont

Thanks in advance.

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hmmm...not sure, i didnt know you could see bronchodilation on a CT, are you sure thats what he said? Might be worth going to speak to your GP about it, especially if you are still having symptoms. My understanding of CTs was that they mainly ruled out things other than asthma, (but in some severe asthmatics you can see the airways are swollen), and i know asthmatics can have a normal spiro - so to ME it seems strange that that would be reason for discharge (although obvs i dont know your medical history!) I'd deffo ask you GP about whats going on, and what the plan is next (i always feel better once i have a plan) and he can explain what the CT scan showed! hope you're feeling better soon!

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your gp or practice nurse can advise further on this, but i have been told that with bronchodilation the lungs can be a bit floppy. this causes some tightness as when floppy they are not properly open and some times close over, so this restricts air flow. some bronchodilation after an infection can be normal and can resolve on its own. Ct scans show up the changes in the lungs as the use less radiation so it shows up the softer tissue. which doesnt normally show up... hope this helps.

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Thank you for your replies - much appreciated.

The management plan is for me to continue as with Qvar inhaler (on a reduced dose) and erm that's it. As far as the consultant is concerned i am a mild asthmatic. Spirometry/X-ray/CT/Heart scan are all good/clear. He cannot explain the almost constant tightness/discomfort in my chest.

My concern was that the infection (and pneumonia I caught in 09) had/has caused damage to my lungs but the consultant didn't seem to think this was the case. Prior to Jan 12, I had been symptom free for twenty years on Seretide/Ventolin.

I can't complain at the care i've received - they seem to have covered every base but seems so hard to get any firm answers.

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have you ever had resp physio? I think that some discomfort can be caused by not breathing correctly, i know it helps for some people (i really hate it but im perservering!)

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have you ever had resp physio? I think that some discomfort can be caused by not breathing correctly, i know it helps for some people (i really hate it but im perservering!)

Yeah I did - and you are right the exercises are hard !! To be honest I didn't find it as helpful as I thought although I did have an element of dysfunctional breathing which was corrected.

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have you ever had resp physio? I think that some discomfort can be caused by not breathing correctly, i know it helps for some people (i really hate it but im perservering!)

Yeah I did - and you are right the exercises are hard !! To be honest I didn't find it as helpful as I thought although I did have an element of dysfunctional breathing which was corrected.

my mums a physio and she says that they do a module in being evil made me chuckle!

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hope you feel better soon as things start to settle.