does anyone know why you might be sent for a high resolution CT chest examination?

[tomorrowisanotherdate]

What might be being looked for? I had a chest infection before Christmas, which has not really cleared up. I've had a couple of chest x rays and I was going to see the consultant and get the results, but now I have had that appointment cancelled, and am being sent for this instead.

Is this to look for cancer?

Thank you

They are probably wanting to look for bronchiectasis (scarring) from the repeated infections. My 2 year old (has bronchiectasis due to a respiratory condition) has had quite a few high resolution cts done as you need the contrast to show up all the branches of the lungs. There are lots of things other than cancer the scans can show. Hope this helps put your mind at rest a bit. Best wishes.

yes it does put my mind at rest, thank you x

Mayo Clinic:

• ''CT scan. If your pneumonia isn't clearing as quickly as expected, your doctor may recommend a chest CT scan to obtain a more detailed image of your lungs.'' Mayo clinic mentions CT scans for pneumonia, not bronchitis.

It's important to find out what type of chest infection when it happens once, let alone when it doersn’t clear up and during a pandemic known to cause pneumonia, as the main complication. Important questions: 1. what type, 2. What caused it - what virus, what bacteria. Some of the answers and questions are here and they are simply basic medicine and these are reliable sources of information: www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354204, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bronchitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355566, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4471-pneumonia This is why it is important to find out what caused pneumonia: my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24002-covid-pneumonia ''All pneumonias cause inflammation and fluid in your lungs. But research suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID pneumonia moves differently through your lungs than other viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia. COVID pneumonia spreads across your lungs slowly, using your own immune system to spread, which means it tends to last LONGER and cause damage in more places. Other pneumonias cause acute disease — symptoms come on all at once — but don’t last as long ‘’