Had chest CT scan , primary care provider thinks it is fluid or an infection, can it be cancer?

I received the following report from a chest CT scan: There is evidence of a 3.2 cm x 1.6 cm x 2.5 cm irregular infiltration in the peripheral aspect of the superior segment of the left lower lobe. Air bronchograms are seen within this. This may represent a focal pulmonary infiltrate. Underlying mass lesion can not be ruled out. There is no demonstrated pleural abnormality.

What does this mean? The nurse said the my (primary care provider) PCP thinks it is fluid or an infection and not likely to be malignant. I am still worried. This seems very large and I don’t have symptoms of pneumonia. How concerned should I be that this is cancer? I am a 40 yo, female with no smoking history. This was initially found on a routine work x-ray. How should I proceed?





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Ayman Darrag
4:12 am

Hi and welcome to question doctors.com
This is rarely going to be cancer.. Your age,history are not predisposing ..
It could be a non cancerous solitary pulmonary nodule.
Stay assured by getting a biopsy done.
Although they are not malignant but they may turn malignant..so it needs close monitoring and may need excision.

Ahmed Fawzy
10:22 am

Can not suggest cancer
This can happen if you sleep on your left side most of the time with a relaxed life style ( no exercise )
you should not be worried as this lobe could be unused by you for some time now
Which can cause a collection of dry sputum with some germs
If your still worried repeat the CT scan within 3 month see if size changes
Good Luck

shw12
12:08 pm

HI
I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS A MALIGNANT LESION.BUT STILL NEEDS TO BE CONFIRMED. GET BLOOD TUMOR MARKERS DONE.

MAHAVEER PATIL
1:21 pm

hi
this can be due to old unhealed infection,consolidation. get a ct done to see for the margins. a biopsy would be confirmatory.
thanks

shalini p
7:32 am

hello there
it may or may not be cancerous.
get a biopsy done straightaway to confirm the diagnosis