Has anyone had ground glass opacity found in lung during X-ray?

[Dariada]

My CAT scan and chest x-ray shows ground glass opacity in my right long. Also found during these tests was a small tumor which was just removed during a vets lobectomy. Just wondering if anyone has had the ground glass opacity issue and if so what the outcome was

[JanetteR57]

the ground glass opacity description is often given to lung nodules found during imaging - many many people have them - a bit like freckles/moles on the inside of the lungs. the more scans that are done on the population the more common it is to find them.... as with freckles/moles very few develop into anything problematical or sinister.... but sometimes the words/terms used can strike terror/fear into people especially if they have a lung cancer/respiratory disease history. The UK started some lung screening pilot projects a few years ago and found many people with them so the British Thoracic Society developed guidelines on which ones should be actioned and which ones should be followed up with 'surveillance' over time. This is part of the clinical pathway and works on size and volume doubling time for any suspicious nodules but for the majority they will not develop further. Many people say they cannot get it out of their head that it's the early stages of cancer but people with freckles/moles tend not to think this way about their skin markings so maybe counselling may help? I've enclosed a link to a video to help people decide whether lung screening is for them that explains this better I think than I'm able to. As you've had a small tumour removed, this will have been tested for lung cancer - was this confirmed or was it benign? Some people do have benign tumours and nodules in their lungs but not always found until resected and removed. As surgery is not always an option it's good that you were detected early enough for this to be a possibility - you can always ask your consultant for the details of the tumour they removed in terms of size and staging if it was cancer. I had an open lobectomy (thoracotomy) in Dec 2010 and a 7cm tumour removed and diagnosed as lung cancer in Jan 2011. I was back at work and swimming by March 2011. good luck. roycastle.org/campaigns/tar...

[Dariada in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you so much fir your encouragement . Your message made me fe better about what’s going on in my right lung. The left lung was operated on this last Friday. I’m supposed to be released from the hospital today but I’m in severe pain so I’m not sure that will happen. Ci haven’t received the Pathology results yet - I’m told they should be sent to my doctor today ir tomorrow. At this point I only know the tumor was malignant. The cancer is non-small cell, the tumor was 2.4 cm. The lump nodes that were removed and examined during surgery were not affected. Despite the small size of the homie, the surgeon removed the entire upper lobe hoping to get cheap margins. I’m a wreck waiting for the results but as I said, your message about the GGO found on my right lung definitely helped me. I’m going to watch the video you sent - I’m sure that will be helpful as well. Thank you again for responding - I really appreciate your help and encouragement.

[JanetteR57 in reply to Dariada]

Mine was non small cell - at the time called mucinous bronchioalveolar carcinoma but world lung cancer classification has changed twice since my diagnosis and would now be called invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma or IMA and the size would now put it at stage 3a but at the time was 2b. It's what they call 'gold standard' to remove the whole lobe so I left the upper left lobe - i.e. half my left lung so the same as you. Keeping active is key to recovery - at the time I was swimming 130 lengths 3-4 times a week but in time I developed my lung capacity to much much more than before - swimming 360 lengths on one occasion and swimming 980 miles in 2012 and 989 in 2013.... way more than pre surgery. Don't let it stop you doing things.... hopefully having had keyhole surgery you will heal quicker than open surgery. My lymph wasn't affected either - so things bode well for you. I didn't have confirmed diagnosis until 13/1/11 almost a month after surgery (they said the delays were due to xmas/new year delays at the lab). emotionally it can be a roller coaster so do focus on your recovery - you may find this link helpful as it explains in plain English the procedure you've had and also suggests some recovery milestones.... good luck with your recovery.... roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

[Lady1958 in reply to JanetteR57]

What is Keyhole surgery at one point we talked about laser surgery. My lungs are so bad from the Copd the they cannot remove the cancer by removing it are my lungs will collapse. So how does Keyhole Surgery work. Sorry trying to find anything to put my life back together.

Lady1958

[Dariada in reply to Lady1958]

I’m not sure - take a look at the link sent by JanetteR57 attached below. I think there’s helpful information

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

[JanetteR57 in reply to Lady1958]

your original statement stated you'd had a VATS lobectomy to remove the small tumour. This is otherwise known as 'key hole' surgery to remove the tumour - VATS stands for video assisted thoracic surgery - where they make small incisions and remove the tumour using instruments inserted through these small incisions compared to a thoracotomy (open thoracic surgery) where there is a large incision usually down the back/shoulder/side where the ribs are spread to gain access to the lung. The keyhole surgery method results in less infection and less time in hospital and quicker recovery. Lobectomy means removal of a single lobe of the lung - the left lung has two and the right lung has three. If two lobes of the right lung or one of each are removed, this is referred to as a bi-lobectomy. If the entire lung (either right or left) is removed this is called a pneumonectomy. hope this helps.

[JanetteR57 in reply to Lady1958]

if surgery is not possible and very few patients are clinically eligible, then radiotherapy in the form of SABR/cyberknife can sometimes be used with very similar results to surgery. otherwise it's usual to 'blitz' it with combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or immunotherapy. your clinical team will have the answers you're seeking as patients are treated in a very 'targeted' personal way these days now so much more is known about lung cancers.. there are wide variations in their characteristics especially in non small cell hence the plethora of targeted agents available. always ask whether there are any clinical trials on offer too with new treatments as these offer alternatives to many...

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

My ground glass opacities have been noted in every CT I had since I was diagnosed. They have remain unchanged since October 2010

[Lady1958 in reply to Denzie]

Hello the Lung Dr. thinks the spot could be phenomena so more Antibiotics which I have taken before. After this round of antibiotics another CT scan is still there biopsy. Getting really tired of "Lets try this" I want something that works........

Lady1958