Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] I am scheduled in a few weeks to follow up with my pulmonologist but I m scared. I had an abnormal chest CT about 8 months ago and it showed a few Bullae on my upper right lung. He said beginnings of emphysyma. Also, my left lower lung shows scarring/nodule (granuloma) from histoplasmosis. I used to live in Ohio Valley when I was young. Doctor thought everything was benign and not to worry and to have another CT in 6 months to compare. Since that time he retired and I m going to another doctor in a few weeks to follow up. My regular doctor had to order CT and I had that done about 3 weeks ago and am awaiting definitive results. They would only tell me that scarring appears the same but they mentioned in right lung opacities. Is that the emphsyma or something else entirely like cancer? I am really worried and no one will help me any sooner with diagnosis until info in a few weeks. They didn t give me any specifics about opacities. Any info you can help me with would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. I m 45 years old by the way, female, and history of smoking and Im trying to quit.
[|AI|]  Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your situation and problem. Opacity on chest x-ray can be due to pneumonia, nodule, cyst or malignant mass. But opacity word is not used for ballad. You are having opacity in resent CT at the same site where ballad were seen in previous scan. You are a active smoker. And so risk of development of malignant mass at the site of ballad is very high. So, you need to wait for the CT report and if this is mass than you need biopsy and histopathological examination to rule out malignancy. Quit smoking as soon as possible. It is not good habit. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.