I would like to ask from experts about chest x-ray results.

Philippines
April 24, 2013 12:44am CST
My husband got his chest x-ray result but only one thing I understood about it. The doctor said that he has PTB and that he should be under medication. With the help of our government here in the Philippines whom they have program to support medications for PTB patients. But in other way, I am still confused and worried about the x-ray results which was not explained to us briefly.So I would like to ask for help from experts or doctorsfor us to understand these results. The following is the result. CHEST PA/LATERAL VIEWS: Fibroreticular infiltrates are seen in both lungs with confluence in the right upper lung. Hila are elevated. Heart is not enlarged. Hemidiaphragms are low set with tenting deformity. Costophrenic sulci are intact. IMPRESSION: -PTB BOTH LUNGS -ATELECTASIS, UPPER LUNGS -POLMUNARY HYPERAERATION -BILATERAL PLEURUDIAPHRAGMATIC ADHESION He is 44 yrs old and weighs about 44 kilos only. I'm hoping for any help. I am just concern on my husband's real condition. Thanks for your help.
2 responses
• Philippines
24 Apr 13
I'm a nurse and as far as I know, PTB can easily be diagnosed through chest Xray. So, more likely the doctors are correct. But there are some more test to confirm that it is a PTB. Did your husband undergo sputum exam and tuberculin test? Sputum test should be accurate while tuberculin test may give false results, most especially to Filipinos, since almost all of us are exposed to PTB (when we were given the BCG vaccination when we were babies).
• Philippines
24 Apr 13
Does he needs to have other medications aside from RHES? What is it anyway? for the doctor had only given him RHES only.He is now on his 2nd month medication. His sputum results +6. He haven't gone for a tuberculin test for the doctor's hasn't advise it and therefore concluded with the results of the x-ray and the sputum only. This is also his second time being diagnosed having PTB, 2006 was his first time and that he had also completed his medication and concluded that he is treated. And now, here it goes again. The nurse who attends with us put him into Category I as of now. thanks anyway for the concern.God bless.
• Philippines
25 Apr 13
Yes, as of the now,he's taking 4 antibiotics: rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, isoniazid (RESH).
• Philippines
24 Apr 13
By the way, ATELECTASIS in layman's term is "lung collapse". That means your husband really needs medical attention.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
24 Apr 13
The terminologies are really hard to understand for ordinary people. But the result just shows that the underyling structures that should be also given attention. Other than PTB, there is no other ailments seen on the xray. So you need not worry. +Atelactsis is the closure of passage of air to the lungs. Once he is treated for PTB, the passage would of air would possibly clear out.
• Philippines
24 Apr 13
Thanks for the concern. the problem is that he is a second timer for PTB. Maybe we just have to see what the results after two months and hope and pray that he's body doesn't resist with the medication. thanks.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
25 Apr 13
I hope he completely gets over PTB. Just let him to take his meds religiously and stay away from too much stress.
• Philippines
25 Apr 13
Speaking of stress, my husband says that stress has caused him these TB for the second time. Yes he is really stressed, who wouldn't be right? But do you agree with that?