Ground glass opacity.

[Toby14]

After I had pneumonia in August a scan showed a 4mm nodule with ground glass . All I can think about is cancer. I'm waiting for the results of a recent scan . What is ground glass?

[teenieleek]

I’ve been in the same position. My second scan showed that both the nodule and the ground glass opacity had resolved. Both had been caused by infection. Hopefully you’ll be the same.

[Toby14 in reply to teenieleek]

Thankyou. I feel better about it and reassured.

[Clovergrass]

My husband was diagnosed with ILD and chest infection from CT scan which amongst other things, showed ground glass opacities. He doesn't have lung cancer.

[Toby14 in reply to Clovergrass]

Gret news for your husband. Thankyou.

[tomhatha]

ground glass effect is a sign of Covid. I had covid years ago and that was a way to confirm it. I'm not shure about a ground glass modual though. Good luck

[Toby14 in reply to tomhatha]

Thankyou

[jackdup]

I have the same and have had ct scans every six months for the last 3 years. Actually after the first few they cut it back to a year and the last one was in Oct and said there was no change from the first scan in 2019. I asked the doctor about it and he simply said that area has the same opacity as ground glass but can’t say what caused it but it hasn’t changed in 3 years and hard to say how many years I had it before I had the first ct scan that showed it.

[Toby14 in reply to jackdup]

Thankyou for this information.

[jackdup in reply to Toby14]

you’re welcome

[Otto11]

Hi. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis which can affect your lungs amongst other things. They found a small mass on X Ray screening for a new medication. This was followed up with a CT which showed a small nodule. I had CT’s every 6 months for 3 years. Sometimes I had them 3 monthly as the nodules increased in size or number with several in both lungs then the following CT they had shrunk or vanished but new ones arrived. Then on one it showed Ground glass effect which they decided was inflammation which is what the nodules were being caused by. I believe infection can also cause inflammation. Mine was a lot worse after I had Pneumonia. After 3 years of monitoring they concluded all was fine. My RA medication was changed to a different one. Recently I had a CT full body for something else & it was noted that all the nodules & ground glass were no longer present. Hoping this can reassure you. It’s scary at first like you I had never heard of it. Try to speak to your GP though if it’s worrying you.

[Toby14 in reply to Otto11]

I will try and speak withGP. Hopefully soon

[Otto11 in reply to Toby14]

Yes that would be good.

[BrigidsFire]

It’s what the lung looks like in the image. If you imagine safety glass that has smashed but is still held together (like a car windscreen), that’s the patterning that shows on the CT image. It’s usually caused by inflammation (in your case the pneumonia).

I have lupus which has damaged my lungs (fibrosis) but when I have a flare up the inflammation causes that pattern. Usually about a third of one lung and two thirds of the other. Then with the right medication it subsides somewhat again.

Once all the inflammation has gone the ground glass pattern may well pretty much disappear.

I also have a nodule, but then so does my husband who has no lung issues (his showed up on a CT after he broke several ribs cycling). I believe it’s fairly common to have the odd nodule and it not be anything sinister.

Easier said than done, but try not to worry too much.

[Toby14 in reply to BrigidsFire]

I feel better with the answers on this site.I feel a bit more confident. thankyou

[Toby14]

Yes i will speak to my GP. Hopefully soon.

[Piperava]

My late husband had Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and his scans showed ground glass.

[coral12]

Hi .I got COVID in march .month after takin meds my chest consultant did x-ray an CT .I have ground glass look in my left lung from COVID .half lung infected .bit there even now .

[Toby14 in reply to coral12]

I’ve had lots of infections this year.Im glad your ok. thankyou

[eleanordigby in reply to Toby14]

Yes, severe or repeated infections can cause this. I’ve had it too. Actually it never occurred to me it might be cancer! But the consultant had already told me it was probably down to infection - pity yours didn’t. Both the nodule and ground glass appearance had disappeared 6 months later 👍

[Toby14 in reply to eleanordigby]

Great news for you. Well done. Thanks.