What prognosis is recommended for this chest CT scan result for signs of TB?
Patient: I have had a year long plague of pneumonia with reason not found . An opacity in chest right upper lobe was found . Two bronchoscopies and one needle biopsy yielded no results .. although my symptoms were fever , weight loss , shortness of breath and cough that doesn t stop .. TB tests were negative ..No specific bacteria or fungi found during this time. They diagnosed this to be lung abcess and finally docs suggested me augmentin for several months which did kill all the symptoms but the mass in my chest would not go away completely .. surgery was advised and they were going to do a lobectomy but ended up doing a wedge resection .. now after a month of healing from this I m still having same symptoms and a CT still shows a mass or opacity in the upper lobe (right) . Doctors are suggesting a full lobe removal but my point is I have been through this once with no results .. what are the chances that this is a misdiagnosis and I have TB .. should I take a second opinion and treat for TB ? Doctor: Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.  Yes, you should definitely go for second opinion. Recurrent mass like lesion on upper lobe is mostly due to   1. Tuberculosis. 2. Lung cancer.  So empirical anti tubercular drugs should be started first. No harm in taking TB treatment. If mass is improving then no need to worry for cancer. But if mass is persistent then possibility of cancer is more likely.   Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.