Topic: Has anyone ever had "ground glass nodules" in their lungs?
Tracy9
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Member # 7521
posted
I am trying to get more information about this. Has anyone ever heard of it? I was just told this showed up on my CT scan while I was in the hospital.
My research shows that about half the time it means lung cancer. I'm wondering if anyone has any information or ideas. Naturally I am going to see my PCP and get referred to a pulmonologist, but while I'm waiting for all that to take place I'd appreciate any information anyone might have.
I have two, one is 9 mm and one is 3 mm, and they were not present on my CT scan about 5 weeks ago. I know this doesn't paint the best picture.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Are these the same as granulomas?
Posts: 581 | From CT | Registered: May 2008
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MariaA
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posted
you saw the two comments from different people who had this (and it was not cancer) in your 'sprung from the hospital' thread, right?
what does Schaller's babesia book say about lung involvement? I know he talks about some cases with fluid buildup in the lungs, and I wonder if the fast growth of that stuff has something to do with your starting more aggressive Lyme therapy.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
do a goggle on ground glass in lungs. there's a lot of stuff.
unfortunately, i can't interpret it, but maybe you can.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Tracy9
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Member # 7521
posted
Maria, I did see the comments, which are what prompted me to post this thread, thinking others might have some more information.
I did google it, that's what I posted above. "Ground glass nodules" are very specific things, they are not fluid buildup or anything like that.
Here is the information I got:
"Pulmonary nodules 10 mm or less in diameter with ground-glass opacity component detected by high-resolution computed tomography have a high possibility of malignancy."
This is exactly what I have, and exactly what test I had.
Also found this:
"Nodules Suspicious for Malignancy: Approximately 50% of incidentally detected nodules >8 mm are malignant."
So you can see my concern. I was hoping others might have some experience with "ground glass nodules."
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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lymeparfait
Unregistered
posted
Tracy,
So glad you are finally home.
I have a Dr. in Germany that I would like you to contact for info and her opinion if you like.
I just went to her lecture in NY/NJ on the
immune disfunction and detox related to cancer
and lesions in the breast, lung and uterus. She
is a surgeon and ND.
PM me and I will give you her info if you like. She is amazing and has helped several famous celebrities and many americans. She does all
natural treatments and actually understands lyme
disease as well. She does not believe cutting
out is the best thing nor chemo, unless it is
the last step. There are much better and very
successful ways to stop cancer from progressing.
She was here in the USA teaching our best DR's.
the new breakthroughs in cancer therapy backed with research.
posted
Last month my daughter had a CT scan and they reported 3 pulmonary nodules in her chest-- one 7mm, one 6mm and the third was 3mm. They told us to follow up in a month or so... I don't know what they cold be? I have not scheduled a follow up w/ a pulmonologist, but I will try to do so this week.
My daughter has Lyme and Babesia (proven)...Bartonella is suspected, but not confirmed.
Posts: 371 | From CT | Registered: Jun 2008
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There is one pubmed article mentioning pulmonary nodules and bartonella. That's what we think is responsible for hubby's pulmonary nodules.
Lymph drainage massage -- either manual or with something like the lymphstar pro might help reduce the size of the nodules. Or glutathione through a nebulizer. Hubby did both of these things 4 years ago when he first found the nodules -- CT scan did improve during that first 6 months.
As I mentioned in the thread where you were admitted to the hospital the docs need to rule out histoplasmosis and also sarcoidosis as a possible cause of the nodules. Hubby also has had bilater hilar adenopathy which is an inflammation in a certain area of the lungs -- shows up on his CT and SPECT scans as well.
Personally I would not have any surgery even for a biopsy until they do either a PET or SPECT scan which may show more info. And depending on the location of the nodules a bronchoscopy (done on an outpatient basis like an endoscopy) is much less invasive than surgical biopsy.
Hubby has had his nodules followed for about 4 1/2 years now. The size of the various nodules has changed -- some get larger and then shrink between the different scans (either 6 months or a year apart).
Hubby also has one lesion on his liver.
Looking at hubby's CT report from this January it looks like he has 5 or 6 larger nodules in each lung plus several smaller nodules scattered throughout each lung.
In the previous study a year ago the largest nodule was 8mm with the other larger ones in the 4-5 mm range. It looks like in the current study the one that was previously the largest is now 7.4 x 4.5 mm and several of the others are now 6 x 6 or 6 x 7 and the largest one is 8 x 8.
Anyway the conclusion was -- stable multiple bilateral noncalcified pulmonary nodules.
Hubby's pulmonolgost agreed that repeat CT scans every 6 months with no significant change in 2 years would pretty much rule out cancer in his case. He has never smoked and has had little exposure to 2nd hand smoke.
I do know that hubby has had several scans which did not show a known kidney stone so I do think it is possible that the first scan may have just missed the nodules if they were smaller. I would get a copy of your earlier scan and have it reread -- have them compare the 2 scans.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experience.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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massman
Unregistered
posted
And the lungs are organs that help detox the body.
Tracy9
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Member # 7521
posted
Thanks so much everyone and Bea. Bea, you said your husbands WERE "ground glass nodules", right? From what I read there is a HUGE difference between regular nodules and "ground glass" nodules, which are far more likely to be malignant.
Thanks again for the feedback...I'll look into it some more.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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oxygenbabe
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I agree with Bea. Have an expert compare previous scans to current.
I think it is *possible* that it is tickborne related, and that going on Rocephin has caused local tissue inflammation/bugs to come out, be killed, whatever, and the body is trying to wall that off.
I also agree with Bea that if biopsy is needed try a less invasive one if possible.
Posts: 2276 | From united states | Registered: Jun 2004
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I did a search for "Bacillary angiomatosis ground glass lung pulmonary nodules" and "ground glass pulmonary nodules bartonella" and it seems quite a bit has come up. Some links are to medical journals which require subscription.
But, here is a little of what I was able to find for glass-type nodules as it related to Bartonella anyway. I haven't tried to search yet for Babesia nor for Lyme or other Co's.
While I think it's good for them to rule out possible cancer, I think it's equally important for your pulmonologist to be aware of all that you are currently infected with (Lyme/Babs, etc. etc.) as that could very well be the likely explanation for your lung broken glass nodules, as well as the lesions/cysts on your liver and spleen. I know that Bart can cause these.
Also, for what it's worth, the blogging doctor LymeMD posted a patient case in the past. A woman who was convinced she had lung cancer. Turns out she had lesions/cysts or nodules (can't remember which). They were biopsied and LymedMD had them tested for Lyme/Co's. Turns out Bartonella was causing these. If I can find that entry, I'll post it here in case it might be helpful.
Also, I've come across some language from this search that says that CMV Pneumonia can cause ground glass pulmonary nodules.
Anyway, stay strong, dearheart. You will get through this and we are here to help you get through.
Fuzzy
p.s. Of course lots of what I'm coming across this morning pertains to lung glass-type nodules in AIDS patients. It's frustrating that the medical community seems to put so much emphasis on that group's immunocomprised nature and no one elses. But, thankfully, at least some research has been done. And I believe it the immunocompromised nature can be applied to Lyme patients as well.
"The most common radiographic pattern in bacterial pneumonia is focal consolidation (Fig. 1), which typically presents in either a segmental or lobar distribution.[1,2,9,13,14*] In contrast, PCP typically presents as a bilateral pattern of pulmonary opacities, which may range from hazy, ground-glass opacities to frank areas of consolidation[1] (Fig. 2). French et al.[14*] recently studied the radiographic appearance of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia in 122 hospitalized patients in Nairobi, Kenya. These authors described the typical findings of pneumococcal pneumonia and compared their frequency between HIV-infected and uninfected patients. Notably, there were no significant differences in the chest radiograph appearances by HIV status. The most common radiographic finding in both groups was the presence of consolidation in either a lobar or multilobar distribution."
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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ALso there is a blood test called the AMAS Cancer Test that alot of doctors don't know exist. It's relatively new and I'm afraid I don't know how good this test is. I don't know about any limitations it might have.
I also don't know whether an antibody-type test for cancer would work in Lyme patients. But, here is some info on it anyway.
The AMAS test, a diagnostic test which tests for circulating levels of a specific antibody, provides a unique tool for monitoring cancer patients in remission. The antibodies bind specifically to a 10,000 molecular weight protein found in a wide range of cancers. Because it monitors an aspect of the body's immune response to cancer, rather than cancer antigens or cancer cells in the bloodstream, the AMAS test is especially accurate early in the recurrence or first occurrence of cancer, when clinical signs of the disease may not be evident or may just be emerging. [click on link for more info]
Fuzz
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Tracy9
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Thanks so much Fuzz for all the info, and everyone else!
My PCP got the hospital reports and he has booked me on Friday for a CT scan of the chest and abdominal ultrasound, so we will go from there.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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The post from FuzzySlippers is really encouraging for you-I had no idea Bart could do so much internal damage! What an eye opener!Hopefully reading her post made you feel a bit better.
Good luck on Friday-hopefully after your scans, they can give you some answers at the hospital before the weekend so you know what's up with those nodules. We will all be waiting to hear from you-
Dawn
Posts: 64 | From rock tavern ,new york | Registered: Aug 2008
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Tracy9
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I have a follow up appt with PCP next Thursday afternoon. I doubt I will hear anything until them, I'm sure it will take them until Monday to read the scans, then get it to him, then I'll see him on Thursday.
I'm guessing I'll need another test before I get any definitive answers based on my research, anyway; a biopsy or something.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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Tracy, you were on rocephin before all the mess with your PICC, correct? You were not infusing any IV fluids that contained calcium during the time you were on the rocephin - something like Ringers or Hartmanns solution?
I have no idea if this would show on the CT, but I thought I would add it here so you could ask your MD.
Posts: 263 | From Capital Region, NY, USA | Registered: Jun 2008
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stymielymie
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tracy cancer nodules do not show up in 3 weeks. i would go with the assumption that the nodules are an acute phase of sarcoidoisis. i would ask doc to bx a nodule that is near the surface. unforunately sarcoidosis is treated with steroids and contradicts this whole auto immune thing. do you have a confirmed dx of lyme??? you may need to have test run for other auto immune diseases. sorry to hear about your brother in law hope all is well pm on your site if you need me dave
Posts: 1820 | From Boone and Southport, NC | Registered: Sep 2006
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stymielymie
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tracy cancer nodules do not show up in 3 weeks. i would go with the assumption that the nodules are an acute phase of sarcoidoisis. i would ask doc to bx a nodule that is near the surface. unforunately sarcoidosis is treated with steroids and contradicts this whole auto immune thing. do you have a confirmed dx of lyme??? you may need to have test run for other auto immune diseases. sorry to hear about your brother in law hope all is well pm on your site if you need me docdave
Posts: 1820 | From Boone and Southport, NC | Registered: Sep 2006
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13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Could it be sarcoid in the nodules?
Posts: 192 | From Dwight, IL USA | Registered: Mar 2007
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Tracy9
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I don't know....but doctor did say today that the spots on my liver and spleen were "not overly concerning" by the brief look he took at the reports.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
The Marshall Protocol is based on the treatment of sarcoidosis with low vitamin D and antibiotics. Not sure if I believe in the low vitamin D but for some people it seems to work. Or maybe it's just the antibiotics?
I don't buy the autoimmune theory, just a cop out for doctors who haven't figured out which organism is causing the disease.
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
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