Update on my Dad

[LindseyRN]

I went with my Dad for his CT-guided lung biopsy today. The radiology nurse told us that from start to finish it would take about an hour and a half and that after the procedure is finished she would look for me in the outpatient waiting area. I decided that before I went to the cafeteria to grab some lunch, I would go to the hospital chapel to do my daily devotional. I had been in the chapel 15-20 minutes when I got a call from the radiology nurse saying Dad was fine, but the radiologist wanted to speak to both Dad and me together. When I got into the scanning room, Dad was on the table and the doctor was standing beside him. He told us that he is unable to do the biopsy because the nodule had shrunk by half. He said that he was worried he had reviewed someone else's CT scan prior to Dad getting on the table, so he scanned Dad both on his belly and his back to make sure he wasn't missing anything. Then he did some comparing with the first CT and he said there is no doubt it had gotten smaller. He said he believes the nodule is a resolving inflammatory process and will recommend that Dad has a repeat chest CT in three months to keep a close eye on it.

Dad is relieved. I am cautiously relieved...does this sound like it could be Wegener's-related? Would you be comfortable waiting 3 months for a follow-up scan?

[pberggren1]

Yes, nodules can shrink. I would feel comfortable waiting 3 months.

[LindseyRN]

Yes, nodules can shrink. I would feel comfortable waiting 3 months.

Yes, but if it were a malignancy, it wouldn't shrink so quickly, right? He is on prednisone 20mg daily (which I know wouldn't reduce the size of a malignancy) and methotrexate one dose weekly. I believe he has had three doses of MTX...could this drug shrink it if it were cancer?

[pberggren1]

I think it could shrink if it was cancer. So either way it is a good sign.

[Debbie C]

I think it could be wg related. I have nodules on my lungs that come and go and I am currently just taking 5mg pred.How is his blood work coming back,as far as sed rate and urine test? My kidney dr. today me people can get nodules over nothing and that he may even have them,so if it shrinking I wouldn't worry too much just watch for any signs.
Maybe the trip to the hosp. chapel helped !!

[ingemlb]

shrinking sounds good

[LindseyRN]

I think it could be wg related. I have nodules on my lungs that come and go and I am currently just taking 5mg pred.How is his blood work coming back,as far as sed rate and urine test? My kidney dr. today me people can get nodules over nothing and that he may even have them,so if it shrinking I wouldn't worry too much just watch for any signs.
Maybe the trip to the hosp. chapel helped !!

All his kidney function labs, including the urinalysis, were normal. We are hopeful that the nodule is WG-related, but we were told by both the rheumatologist and the pulmonologist that WG does not present in the lungs as a solitary nodule. (Although I have learned otherwise since joining here!). Also of significance is the single nodule's location and the fact that it appeared spiculated on my Dad's first chest CT.

We are so excited that it has shrunk by half, but now I'm wondering if the three doses of methotrexate he has taken caused that to happen. I asked the radiologist this question, he paused as if this was new information to him, and then said no.