My Cat Scan Adventure

A while back, I noticed a lump in my groin. It came with a burning sensation—hard to ignore, as you might imagine. Concerned, I brought it up with my doctor, who promptly ordered an ultrasound. The scan confirmed the lump—and then, because life loves a twist, found two more. Oh, goody. The possibilities ranged from a simple infection to lymphoma or even metastatic cancer.

Naturally, my first thought was, If it’s an infection, an antibiotic should clear it up. Can’t we just try that? I wasn’t just being impatient; I was doing mental math. The ultrasound had already drained $500 from my wallet, and I figured a CT scan would tack on another $800. But my doctor insisted on ruling out the big scary possibilities, so CT scans of my pelvis, abdomen, and chest were ordered.

Thankfully, the results brought huge relief: no evidence of cancer anywhere in my body. The only lumps were the original three in my groin. And as a delightful bonus, I got a detailed scan of my lungs—an unexpected treasure for an asthma geek like me.

So, what did my CT show?

My Airway Anatomy: Unremarkable!

In medical lingo, "unremarkable" is actually a compliment.

• Base of Neck & Axillae: No lymph node enlargement.
• Mediastinum & Hila: No lymph node enlargement here, either.
• Esophagus: Totally unremarkable. (Again, this is good news!)
• Cardiovascular: The heart is normal in size. No fluid surrounding it. The thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery look great.

The Lungs:

Here’s where things get interesting.

I have some lung markings, but nothing the radiologist deemed concerning. Naturally, my asthma-obsessed brain started spinning: Could these markings be remnants of past severe asthma attacks? Let’s break it down.

Specific Findings

• Atelectasis: Mild areas of lung collapse or incomplete expansion were noted, particularly in the right hemidiaphragm.

  • What it means: Atelectasis often occurs when air can’t fully fill the lungs, sometimes due to mucus, inflammation, or shallow breathing—factors that can pop up with asthma. In my case, it’s mild and not causing symptoms, so nothing to lose sleep over.

• Nodules:

  • A 4 mm nonspecific nodule in the left lower lobe.
  • Three 2-3 mm nodules in the right lower lobe.
  • A 4 mm calcified granuloma in the right upper lobe.
  • What they are: Nodules are small, round growths that are often harmless. The calcified granuloma is basically scar tissue from an old infection—like a badge of honor for my immune system.
  • Asthma connection: Nodules themselves aren’t caused by asthma, but chronic airway inflammation might make lungs more prone to infections that leave behind these little souvenirs.

The Good Stuff

• No infiltrates, which means no fluid or signs of infection.
• No ominous growths or other scary findings.

For someone with a history of asthma, these results are reassuring. My lungs might have a few quirks, but overall, they’re still doing their job like champs!

What About COPD?

Here’s where I get to do a happy dance: No evidence of COPD! This is something I’ve worried about, especially since asthma can sometimes progress to COPD. But my CT says no findings of emphysema or smoking-related lung damage. Yippee for me!

Pleural Space & Chest Wall:

• Pleural Space: No pleural effusions (fluid buildup) or pneumothorax (collapsed lung).
• Chest Wall: Degenerative changes and scoliosis in my spine—but nothing unexpected for someone my age.

Maybe my teachers were onto something when they nagged me about posture in my younger days. Note to self: Sitting up straight might have been worth the effort!

Final Thoughts

Surprisingly, my CT scan ended up being free. My doctor submitted a special request for insurance approval, and it came through—no cost to me.

As for the lumps in my groin, they’ll need further monitoring. My doctor recommended a biopsy to get more answers, so he referred me to a surgeon. Let’s just say I’m not exactly thrilled about that.

I’ll share all the details about my appointment with the surgeon—and what he had to say—in my next post. Stay tuned!