Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] In August 1999 I had a collapsed lung (right). It went again in November 1999 resulting in surgery to reinflate. Since Feb this year I have had a persistent cough. An x-ray now discloses slight scarring on my lung. I am currently awaiting a further scan to get a more positive clarification. Could the above surgery be the probable cause of scarring? I was a smoker but gave up on 3rd February 1993
[|AI|]  Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your situation and problem. Yes, you are right. Your current scar on chest x-ray can be due to the procedure you had at the time of lung collapse. But better to get done 1. CT thorax. CT gives much better idea about lung lesion than chest x-ray.2. Bronchoscopy. If CT suggestive of fresh lesion (due to infection) than to search the cause, bronchoscopy is necessary. So better to consult pulmonologist and get done CT thorax first and discuss all these.