ive just had a chest xray done, the report states as follows... the cardiomediastinal contours lie within normal limits. There is what appears to be a pleural based opacity within the left mid zone which cannot be confidently identified on the lateral projection.  Given the clinical history a CT examination of the chest is recommended for further assessment.  The lungfields are hyperinflated in keeping with background changes of COAD. There is no pleural collection.  Degenerative change is seen with ithe mid thoracic spineI am 43 years old and a smoker...i would appreciate it if you could translate this report in layman terms as i cant get in to see my regular doctor for three daysthankyou, Jenny
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your concern. Your x-ray report is suggestive of smoking related lung damage. You are having COPD (chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease). So hyperinflation of lungs is likely. You are also having pleural based opacity. Lungs are surrounded by thin layers called pleura. Opacity in pleura is mostly due to either collection of fluid or mass like lesion. All these are common in smokers. Chest x-ray is only two-dimensional. So all the lesions can not be diagnosed accurately and hence CT thorax I'd needed in your case for the diagnosis of this pleural based opacity. You should definitely quit smoking as soon as possible and get done CT thorax to rule pleural mass. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.