Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] I spent 5 days in the hospital with double pneumonia. When they did a chest xray, it showed a mass on my lungs. I had a repeat x ray done last tuesday, the doctor called me today to tell me the xray showed no mass, but radiologist recommendca ct scan?? I do have COPD and emphysema, so why the Ct scan? What are they looking for? It worries me.
[|AI|]  Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your situation and problem. COPD and emphysema are risk factors for pneumonia and lung cancer. Chest x-ray is primary screening test to rule out both these conditions. Since your primary chest x-ray was suggestive of pneumonia, it is always better to confirm this by doing follow-up chest x-ray in case of COPD. CT thorax is much more informative than chest x-ray to rule out lung cancer and confirm pneumonia. So better to get done CT thorax on follow up to rule out lung cancer.