What does non-homogenous opacity on X-ray mean?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 76-year-old father went for a routine checkup where his X-ray report mentioned non-homogenous opacity in right mid and lower zones. Also, his TLC level was 15.7. I do not want to see him in pain if he would be advised to undergo any surgery or go for chemotherapy. He is old aged and has undergone angioplasty twice. He coughs during the night and sometimes in the day.

He is a non-smoker and does yoga regularly and morning exercise. He is fit and does not have a fever. In view of the above description, please advise me the proper course of action.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Most probably he has a chest infection or pneumonia which will require a course of antibiotics and a follow-up X-ray after one week.

The good news is that he will require no chemotherapy or surgery.

Please answer the following questions in order to narrow the differential diagnosis:

Is his cough wet or dry? What color is the phlegm?

Has he taken antibiotics within the last few weeks?

Is there any abnormal breathing pattern or rapid breathing?

Is there any change in his conscious level?

I suggest the following:

Take Levofloxacin 750 mg tablet once daily for one week.

Repeat X-ray after one week.

Acetylcysteine 200 mg sachets every eight hours if there is a wet cough. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and with their consent take the above medicines.

Follow up after one week.

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the attachments (attachment removed to protect patient identity).

I have checked all attached reports extensively and I have consulted a friend who is an oncologist. Sorry to inform you that your father has a lung cancer stage III. There is no distant metastasis until now.

There are many protocols for lung cancer management. But the most common protocol suggest chemotherapy first as there is lymph node metastasis then according to response radiotherapy, surgery should follow.

Oncosurgereon and thoracic surgeon, as well as oncologists, should determine the management plan.

Unfortunately, the prognosis for lung cancer is not always good.

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online

Answer 3

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Chemotherapy is not painful but side effects can develop after some cycles of chemotherapy such as hair falling, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, numbness of feet and hands and decreased immunity.

There are medications that decrease the side effects symptoms.

Response to chemotherapy will determine the next stage of management.

Five-year survival is less than 40%.

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online