Shadow on chest

CT examination is a relatively common examination method. Through CT examination, many health problems of patients can also be discovered. For example, if a shadow is found in the chest during a chest CT examination, it may mean that the patient has diseases such as lung cancer, pneumonia or bronchitis. For this reason, if there are shadows on the lung CT, further enhanced CT is needed to confirm your condition.

1. Lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors with the fastest growing incidence and mortality rate and the greatest threat to human health and life. In the past 50 years, many countries have reported that the incidence and mortality of lung cancer have increased significantly. The incidence and mortality of lung cancer in men rank first among all malignant tumors, while the incidence and mortality of lung cancer in women rank second. The cause of lung cancer is still not fully understood. However, a large amount of data shows that long-term heavy smoking is closely related to the occurrence of lung cancer. Existing studies have shown that the probability of long-term heavy smokers developing lung cancer is 10 to 20 times that of non-smokers, and the younger the age at which one starts smoking, the higher the chance of developing lung cancer. In addition, smoking not only directly affects one's own physical health, but also has adverse effects on the health of people around them, leading to a significant increase in the incidence of lung cancer among passive smokers. The incidence of lung cancer among urban residents is higher than that in rural areas, which may be related to the carcinogens contained in urban air pollution and smoke. Therefore, smoking should be discouraged and urban environmental sanitation work should be strengthened.

2. Pneumonia

Pneumonia refers to inflammation of the terminal airways, alveoli, and lung interstitium. It can be caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, as well as physical and chemical factors such as radiation and inhaled foreign matter. The main clinical symptoms are fever, cough, sputum, blood in the sputum, which may be accompanied by chest pain or difficulty breathing. In children with pneumonia, the symptoms are often not obvious, and there may be a mild cough. Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics and can be cured in 7 to 10 days. Viral pneumonia is a milder form of the disease that cannot be cured by antibiotics.

3. Bronchitis

Bronchitis refers to a chronic, nonspecific inflammation of the trachea, bronchial mucosa and surrounding tissues. The main cause of bronchitis is repeated infection by viruses and bacteria, which results in chronic nonspecific inflammation of the bronchi. When the temperature drops, the small blood vessels in the respiratory tract spasm and ischemia, and the defense function decreases, which are conducive to the onset of disease; chronic stimulation such as smoke, dust, and polluted atmosphere can also cause the disease; smoking causes bronchospasm, mucosal mutations, reduced ciliary movement, and increased mucus secretion, which is conducive to infection; allergic factors also have a certain relationship.