Understanding Lung Nodules and Their Connection to Thyroid Cancer
Lung nodules & thyroid cancer 1. What are the causes of pulmonary nodules? 2. Is it possible for papillary thyroid carcinoma to metastasize to the lungs? Is there a relationship between pulmonary nodules and papillary thyroid carcinoma?
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello: 1. A pulmonary nodule is a mass seen on a chest X-ray, which may be cancerous or benign, and requires further evaluation. 2. Papillary thyroid carcinoma can metastasize to the lungs; if a patient with thyroid cancer presents with a new pulmonary nodule, it is often due to ...[Read More] Understanding Lung Nodules and Their Connection to Thyroid Cancer
Understanding Chest Tightness and Breathing Issues: Causes and Solutions
Chest tightness... accompanied by shortness of breath and coughing? Dear Dr. Yang, For the past year, I have been troubled by a persistent issue, but I am unsure of where to seek help. Sometimes I experience chest tightness and difficulty breathing, which leads me to take deep b...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, Xiao Ru: Your main symptom is difficulty breathing. If a recent chest X-ray has ruled out any diseases of the chest or heart, it is likely related to stress. I recommend avoiding cold or icy foods (you may consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner), and try to re...[Read More] Understanding Chest Tightness and Breathing Issues: Causes and Solutions
Understanding Blood in Sputum: Causes and Diagnostic Insights
Hemoptysis My mother has a persistent cough and experienced hemoptysis at the beginning of the year. Since then, she has been coughing up blood in her first sputum every morning. She has visited several ENT specialists, but no issues were found in her nasopharynx. She also underw...
Dr. Xu Jialin Reply:
First, it is important to clarify whether the blood is in the saliva or in the sputum. If there is blood in the saliva, it may originate from the nasopharynx or oral cavity, such as nasopharyngeal cancer, gingivitis, or oral cancer, among others. If the blood is in the sputum, it...[Read More] Understanding Blood in Sputum: Causes and Diagnostic Insights
Understanding Asymptomatic Pulmonary Infiltrates: Causes and Implications
Pulmonary infiltration The body shows no abnormalities, but a chest X-ray during a physical examination revealed infiltrates, with no discomfort reported. What are the possible causes of pulmonary infiltrates? Thank you for your guidance.
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, SRS: Pulmonary infiltration refers to the presence of abnormal lines or shadows in the lungs, which may be due to slightly enlarged blood vessels, mild pulmonary inflammation, or mild pulmonary tuberculosis. In any case, you need to return to the pulmonology clinic for a f...[Read More] Understanding Asymptomatic Pulmonary Infiltrates: Causes and Implications
Understanding Chest Pain: Is It Pneumothorax or Something Else?
Experiencing chest pain only when sneezing or during deep breathing does not necessarily indicate a pneumothorax? Hello Dr. Yang: I am unsure if the discomfort is due to frequent basketball collisions during high school, but since college, I have experienced a feeling of tightnes...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, based on your chest X-ray results, there is over a 90% chance that there are no issues with your lungs. Considering your young age, it is unlikely that there are any significant pulmonary pathologies. It is possible that you are experiencing costochondritis or what Traditi...[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain: Is It Pneumothorax or Something Else?
Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery in Elderly Patients
Pleural effusion I previously asked about my grandfather, who developed pulmonary edema due to malnutrition. Last week, he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Hukou Mercy Hospital because of elevated carbon dioxide levels in his body. The doctor indicated that there is no ...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: The most common causes of pleural effusion (hydrothorax) in the elderly include heart failure, cirrhosis, uremia, and malnutrition. If the effusion is unilateral, one should consider tuberculous pleuritis, pneumonia-related effusion, and cancer metastasis. Treatment should...[Read More] Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery in Elderly Patients
Understanding Lung Calcification: Causes, Concerns, and Health Implications
Pulmonary calcification Hello, Dr. Yang. The day before yesterday, I went for a health check-up and had an X-ray done. The doctor mentioned that there is calcification in my lungs and asked if I have ever had tuberculosis. The problem is that I have never had such an illness, and...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: The presence of calcifications on a chest X-ray indicates that there have been past inflammatory lesions in the lungs (not necessarily tuberculosis) that have healed, leaving behind scar tissue, similar to how scars form after injuries on the hands or feet during childhood...[Read More] Understanding Lung Calcification: Causes, Concerns, and Health Implications
Chest Tightness and Throat Discomfort: Understanding Your Symptoms
Chest tightness and a strange sensation in the throat? As a child, I experienced asthma during colds, but I haven't had any issues for over a decade. Now at 26 years old, I have a smoking habit (for 6 years). Until recently, I was doing well, but due to a foot injury, I'...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, Xiao P: Your condition does not resemble an asthma attack, nor does it seem to be a terminal illness. It appears more like chronic pharyngitis or increased airway sensitivity. I recommend that you visit a pulmonology clinic for a chest X-ray to confirm whether there are an...[Read More] Chest Tightness and Throat Discomfort: Understanding Your Symptoms
Understanding Asthma: Managing Symptoms and Concerns for Aging Parents
Asthma Hello, doctor. In recent months, I have noticed that my mother's asthma seems to be worsening. She mentioned that she had episodes of asthma when she was a child, but it was normal during adulthood (seemingly cured) until it recurred in the past two years. Initially, ...
Dr. Guo Lucheng Reply:
There are many causes of toe cramps, and a thorough investigation is necessary to determine the underlying reason, which may include electrolyte imbalances and may not necessarily be related to medications. Allergic predisposition can be hereditary, but the manifestation varies a...[Read More] Understanding Asthma: Managing Symptoms and Concerns for Aging Parents
Understanding Chronic Bronchitis: Symptoms and Management Tips
Chronic bronchitis Chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and discomfort in the throat with a sensation of phlegm being stuck.
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, your issue may be related to the heart or lungs, or it could simply be due to a hectic lifestyle and increased stress. It is recommended that you visit a teaching hospital's pulmonary department, where a physician will order relevant tests based on your condition to h...[Read More] Understanding Chronic Bronchitis: Symptoms and Management Tips
Understanding Chronic Bronchitis: Symptoms and Management Tips
Chronic bronchitis Chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and a sensation of mucus stuck in the throat.
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, your issue may be related to the heart or lungs, or it could simply be due to a fast-paced lifestyle and increased stress. It is recommended that you visit a teaching hospital's pulmonary department, where a physician will order relevant tests based on your condition ...[Read More] Understanding Chronic Bronchitis: Symptoms and Management Tips
Severe Pain After Chemotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer: Causes and Relief
Severe pain after chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer? I apologize for taking up the doctor's time again! My father has small cell lung cancer and underwent his first chemotherapy at the end of March, followed by a second round at the end of April, using traditional medi...
Dr. Guo Lucheng Reply:
The two explanations for back pain are quite strange; I believe it shouldn't be this way. However, the exact cause cannot be determined solely based on this description. A physician needs to examine the patient or conduct some tests to find out. Generally, during chemotherap...[Read More] Severe Pain After Chemotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer: Causes and Relief
Understanding Lung Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help
Chest pain? I experience a sharp pain in my lungs when I breathe. It usually occurs when I'm not exerting myself, and the pain improves only after I exhale with some effort. Sometimes it affects my left lung, and other times my right lung. It does not occur during exercise, ...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: Based on your symptoms, deep breathing causing chest pain is generally attributed to myofascial pain syndrome or pleuritis. If you are concerned, you may consider getting a chest X-ray. If the results are normal, treatment can be based on your symptoms, with an emphasis on...[Read More] Understanding Lung Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help
Is Lung Calcification a Sign of Tuberculosis Recovery or Ongoing Disease?
Lung calcification does not necessarily indicate that tuberculosis has been cured. While calcified lesions in the lungs can be a sign of previous infections, including tuberculosis, they may also result from other conditions. It is important to conduct further evaluations and ima...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello: Pulmonary calcification generally refers to scar calcification following an inflammatory response, often representing a chronic condition (similar to scars after limb injuries) that does not disappear. Patients who have had tuberculosis often show this manifestation on che...[Read More] Is Lung Calcification a Sign of Tuberculosis Recovery or Ongoing Disease?
Understanding Chest Pain: What Could a Hard Lump Indicate?
Suddenly felt something hard? Hello, doctor. I would like to ask a question for my husband. While he was sleeping today, he suddenly felt a hard, immovable lump in the center of his chest, just below the area between his lungs. It is about 3 centimeters in size and it hurts. Sinc...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
The location you described seems to be the xiphoid process at the lower end of the sternum. Generally, excessive fatigue can lead to myositis or costochondritis, causing pain. Improvement can be achieved through rest and anti-inflammatory medication. It is recommended to visit a ...[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain: What Could a Hard Lump Indicate?
Understanding Lung Issues: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Care Tips
Regarding lung issues? Hello Doctor, I experienced coughing up blood in January of this year after staying up late for two consecutive days and went to the emergency room. The X-ray results were normal, but a CT scan showed a white shadow in one area of my right lung. After takin...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello John: Your diagnosis should be bronchiectasis with hemoptysis. If your chest pain does not show any significant abnormalities on the chest X-ray, then neuropathic pain is a more likely diagnosis. Currently, Western medicine would generally prescribe pain relievers, hemostat...[Read More] Understanding Lung Issues: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Care Tips
Understanding Bilateral Pleural Thickening on Chest X-Ray: Risks and Implications
X-ray examination during a physical check-up? The presence of pleural thickening on both sides of the lung apices observed in an X-ray indicates that there may be some form of inflammation or scarring in the pleura, which is the membrane surrounding the lungs. This finding can be...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
The chest X-ray shows pleural thickening, which generally indicates an old lesion in clinical practice. Currently, there is no evidence of any disease. It is possible that this is a remnant from a past pleuritis experienced during youth, which may have been asymptomatic at the ti...[Read More] Understanding Bilateral Pleural Thickening on Chest X-Ray: Risks and Implications
Understanding Hemoptysis: Key Considerations for Patients Abroad
Recently, I have been coughing up blood? Dr. Yang: Hello! I experienced hemoptysis several times last year, and after a CT scan, the doctor informed me that there is fibrosis in the bronchus near my heart, advising me to avoid catching a cold as much as possible. Recently, I have...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello Amy: As you mentioned, the computed tomography scan revealed fibrosis in the bronchi near your heart, indicating that there are no tumors or cavitary changes associated with tuberculosis in your lungs. Your diagnosis leans towards bronchiectasis, which may result in increas...[Read More] Understanding Hemoptysis: Key Considerations for Patients Abroad
Understanding Pleural Effusion: External vs. Internal Fluid Accumulation
Pleural effusion Hello, my father is a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis, which has been treated and controlled for many years. Recently, he has been coughing up blood, and after a CT scan, it was found that he has pleural effusion and pneumonia. The doctor mentioned that the p...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello Js: The external fluid accumulation you mentioned is likely pleural effusion (fluid in the pleural cavity outside the lungs). Recurrence of pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, lung tumors, and heart failure can lead to pleural effusion. If possible, performing a thoracentesi...[Read More] Understanding Pleural Effusion: External vs. Internal Fluid Accumulation
Understanding Hilar Pulmonary Artery Enlargement: Health Implications Explained
What is hilar pulmonary artery prominence? As mentioned in the title... this shouldn't cause any health issues, right?
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, Yaya: The term "pulmonary hilar prominence" likely refers to hilar enlargement or hilar mass. The hilum is the area where the lungs connect with the heart, containing the pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, lymph nodes, and adjacent lung tissue. Any congenital o...[Read More] Understanding Hilar Pulmonary Artery Enlargement: Health Implications Explained