Nodules that look like ground glass?

[Wallcrawler]

I'm not the religious type, but my grandfather is. Anything that might help I'm willing to try.

My grandfather (83) played the role of my father during my dads struggles with alcoholism. So from 6th grade, to graduation, this man taught me everything about life, responsibility, and how to be a man and father.

Last April, he was coughing blood and this horseshit ER said It was simply a broken blood vessel in the throat from coughing, even though there was a small spot on his lungs.

Now the chest pain is worse, and on the x ray the doctors say the spot is bigger and now there are nodules present in the lungs that are similar to ground glass.

CT scan being set up. All we can do now is wait, and hope for the best.

Until now id never even contemplated the thought of him not being around. Toughest old buzzard ive ever seen.

But this makes him look mortal, and its ****in terrifying, so If there is anything out there listening, if you could ask for some help with this, id be grateful.

[Kman34]

Prayers sent to your Grandfather, you and your family...

[FlaChief58]

Prayers sent for you both. My Grandpa was my hero and I miss him every day

[wazu]

Sorry to hear, prayers sent. Hope you get good news.

[Otter]

Done

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Ground glass opacities on imaging are increasingly common as resolution on scans has increased. While they can indicate something problematic, they are often nothing. It's easy for me to say don't worry, but that's not terribly helpful. I understand why you'd be concerned, but don't automatically despair.

[Pants]

I hope your Grandpa is okay, man. Thoughts and prayers.

[mlyonsd]

Prayers your way.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Ground glass opacities on imaging are increasingly common as resolution on scans has increased. While they can indicate something problematic, they are often nothing. It's easy for me to say don't worry, but that's not terribly helpful. I understand why you'd be concerned, but don't automatically despair.

They show up all over the body too, don't they?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I'm going to provide you with an excerpt from a CT angiogram I had in July when the doctors were worried I had a pulmonary embolism secondary to malignancy:

LUNGS/PLEURA: Diffuse bilateral groundglass opacities and interlobular septal thickening. Mild diffuse bronchial wall thickening.

A few weeks later, I had a PET scan, which is designed to detect malignancy, as cancer cells use glucose at a higher rate (and FDG is a radioactive form of sugar):


(NM PET) Hodgkin lymphoma
Report
EXAMINATION: PET/CT fusion images with F-18 FDG
INDICATION: Hodgkin lymphoma
COMPARISON: PET/CT dated April 3, 2020

TECHNIQUE: After appropriate patient preparation, the patient was
administered a dose of F-18 FDG intravenously. PET imaging study was
performed using dedicated PET/CT scanner about one hour
post-injection. Tomographic slices and 3-dimensional displays were
generated for both modalities. Images of PET and non-contrast CT were
co-registered and fused for accurate anatomical localization and
correlation. The FDG uptake is quantified and given as SUV-max.
Non-contrast low-dose CT images taken for fusion provide limited
diagnostic information. Deauville Criteria (scale 1-5 based on
comparison with liver uptake) is used for gauging response in patient
with lymphoma, when appropriate.
AREAS IMAGED: Skull base to mid thigh
F-18 FDG DOSE: 8.61 mCi
PRIOR CHEMO OR RADIATION THERAPY: Chemotherapy
PATIENT'S BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL: 89
FINDINGS:

No FDG avid enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, chest, abdomen, or
pelvis.

Physiological uptake of FDG is noted in the heart, bowel, liver,
urinary bladder, bone marrow and some other soft tissues. Intense
focal and/or diffuse uptake particularly in colon & rectum may
preclude tumor detection.

INCIDENTAL CT FINDINGS: Right-sided Port-A-Cath terminates in the
right atrium. Scattered punctate non-FDG avid right pulmonary nodules
(for instance series 7 images 36, 41). Bibasilar atelectasis and
scattered mosaic attenuation predominantly in the lower lobes which
may be secondary to respiratory motion artifact. No focal hepatic


Point being, you can have opacities without them being malignant.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

They show up all over the body too, don't they?

GGO are limited to pulmonary scans to the best of my knowledge.

[Wallcrawler]

He's been a smoker all his life. Camel unfiltered. Even after his heart attack back in 1995. I appreciate all the good thoughts. Hopefully its nothing.

The worsening chest pain is the biggest worry. He finally told us that it had been worsening for a few months, but he was hoping to ignore it, and ride it out until it went away.

Probably should have seen the doctor months ago. Hopefully it hasnt been too long.

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by Wallcrawler

He's been a smoker all his life. Camel unfiltered. Even after his heart attack back in 1995. I appreciate all the good thoughts. Hopefully its nothing.

The worsening chest pain is the biggest worry. He finally told us that it had been worsening for a few months, but he was hoping to ignore it, and ride it out until it went away.

Probably should have seen the doctor months ago. Hopefully it hasnt been too long.

Keep in mind, the chest pain and abnormal X-Ray might be unrelated.

If your grandfather has a history of heart disease and worsening chest pain, he needs to see a cardiologist And make sure his PCP knows about the chest pain.

Prayers your way.

[TRR]

Prayers your way, and for your Grandfather. Wishing you a moment of peace.

[Megatron96]

Shitty circumstances.

Prayers for you and your grandfather.