We avoid using tertiary references. 322166814/www.reference.com/Reference_Mobile_Feed_Center3_300x250, The Best Benefits of HughesNet for the Home Internet User, How to Maximize Your HughesNet Internet Services, Get the Best AT&T Phone Plan for Your Family, Floor & Decor: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Budget, Choose the Perfect Floor & Decor Stone Flooring for Your Home, How to Find Athleta Clothing That Fits You, How to Dress for Maximum Comfort in Athleta Clothing, Update Your Homes Interior Design With Raymour and Flanigan, How to Find Raymour and Flanigan Home Office Furniture. While some cancers such as lung and lymphoma can, Read More Do Enlarged Lymph Nodes in The Chest Mean Cancer?Continue, Please read the disclaimer Achalasia is a disorder where the lower part of the esophagus is narrowed and fails to let food through into the stomach. Opacities in the lungs are seen on a chest radiograph when there is a decrease in the ratio of gas to soft tissue in the lungs, according to Radiopaedia.org. Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms and what to do if they occur here. Ground glass opacities can range from benign and requiring no treatment all the way to life threatening conditions. Healthcare professionals see lung opacities on imaging scans. 2023 A. Mendelson, MD Star Direct, Inc. | About The Author | Imaging Categories | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact. Spinal lesions are commonly spotted on imaging tests. A lung opacity is a frequently used term by radiologists on chest X-rays and essentially means a white spot of uncertain significance. A minimally-invasive approach that is completed through 1 to 3 small (approximately -inch) incisions in the chest. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. All rights reserved. include protected health information. A lung PET scan is used to take. Doctors treat bacterial and fungal pneumonia with medications. Opacities throughout both lungs primarily involve the upper lobes, which can be described as fluffy, hazy, or cloudlike and are confluent and poorly marginated, all pointing to airspace disease. Inflammation of the lung, scarring, thickening around airspaces are additional causes. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. Linear opacities indicate an interstitial pattern of lung infection or lung disease. This may be a small piece of food, a small piece of a toy, or something similar. Bellini LM. privacy practices. Rarely, pulmonary nodules are a sign of lung cancer. COVID infection is the most common cause of diffuse ground glass opacities in the current pandemic. This is damage to the lungs which can occur from lung causes and those outside the lungs. On the same day, the patient was discharged in good general condition with oral antibiotics (625 mg co-amoxiclav, three times a day for ten days). Bibasilar atelectasis specifically refers to the collapse of the lower sections of your lungs. However, a person should speak with their doctor if they experience: Treatment varies according to the severity and type of cancer a person has. If you experience emergency warning signs, including trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to stay awake, or blue or grey tint to your skin, lips, or nail beds, call 911 immediately. All rights reserved. Opacities in the lungs are seen on a chest radiograph when there is a decrease in the ratio of gas to soft tissue in the lungs, according to Radiopaedia.org. Do Enlarged Lymph Nodes in The Chest Mean Cancer. The prognostic significance of pure ground glass opacities in lung cancer computed tomographic images. Will other diagnostic tests help determine the cause. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Drug treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. In the long term, the condition may cause chronic fatigue, weight loss, and irreversible scarring. Many drugs can damage your lungs, especially: Lung damage can also result from autoimmune diseases such as: The list of substances and conditions that can lead to interstitial lung disease is long. Ground-glass opacity is a radiological term that refers to hazy gray areas on the images made by CT scans or X-rays. Bilateral types of pneumonia affect both lungs. There are many causes of enlarged lymph nodes in the chest. If nothing else works for you, you might need a lung transplant. Some conditions that cause lung opacity, like viral infections, are typically short-lived with low long-term risk. Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. Definition of opacity 1a : obscurity of sense : unintelligibility. Causes that are not related to the lungs can include burns, trauma, pancreatitis and shock. Your clinical doctor will use the information from the X-ray together with everything he knows about you as a patient to arrive at the best course of action and diagnosis. If an opacity is new compared to say something recent from a month ago, then it is more likely to an infection or fluid. Patients with Achalasia often, Read More Achalasia on EsophogramContinue, Please read the disclaimer A hiatal hernia is a herniation of abdominal contents through the opening of the esophagus as it connects with the stomach. For example, one term that healthcare professionals might use in reference to a lung CT scan is opacity. This is a radiological term that refers to the hazy gray areas on images made by CT scans or X-rays. An X-ray of your chest will confirm the diagnosis. Essentially, a ground-glass opacity describes the " shades of grey" in between a normal lung scan and one from an extremely diseased lung that shows up nearly all white because it's full of puss . Interstitial (in-tur-STISH-ul) lung disease describes a large group of disorders, most of which cause progressive scarring of lung tissue. There is a problem with
Disorders without a known cause are grouped together under the label of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, the most common and deadly of which is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. If your excess weight pushes on your lungs, it may be difficult for you to take a deep breath which may lead to this condition. Bleeding throughout the lungs can cause diffuse ground glass opacities. Its also good to know that chest CTs are used to screen for risk of lung cancer, and a physician may order a CT scan if you have a history of smoking. A look at dependent edema, a condition where fluid pools in the lower parts of the body. However, it can also indicate a more serious or long-term condition. Dr Z. Interpreting findings on X-rays depends on your symptoms & prior medical condition(s). 1. Symptomatic patients who are candidates for treatment report impairment in vision with a specific activity, for example with reading, watching television or driving, and this complaint should be documented in the medical record. Remdesivir (Veklury), which is given by IV is the only antiviral drug that has full FDA approval. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more. Lung opacities can indicate many conditions besides cancer. This means that lung cancer outlook may be better when a person has pure ground-glass opacity, compared with scans that showed a solid part in the nodules. Bibasilar atelectasis usually occurs after youve had a surgical procedure that involves general anesthesia, especially chest or abdominal surgery. A stable opacity over time and many X-rays is more likely to be something benign, perhaps scarring from prior infection. Treatment may include radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Goldman L, et al., eds. An inability to move due to injury, illness, or disability. Since tumors in the maxillary sinus are often large and appear opaque, they can cause total opacification of the sinus 1. White opacities in both lungs in someone known to have heart failure is most likely edema or fluid in the lungs. Many diseases that have ground glass can have additional abnormalities which help with the diagnosis as well. Learn about the benefits, risks, and accuracy of low dose CT scans for lung cancer detection, as well as who should be screened for lung cancer, and, PET scan is an imaging technique that uses a radioactive tracer to locate tissue differences at a molecular level. You may have one nodule on the lung or several nodules. Experts Explain the Coronavirus Symptom, Other COVID-19-Associated Changes on Chest CT Scans, COVID-19 Pneumoniathe Lung Infection Caused by Getting COVID-19. A slowly worsening abnormality in both lungs may represent chronic lung disease. There are multiple areas of possible infection or inflammation. This can cause the area to be opaque on a CT scan. Learn why this happens, how to recognize the symptoms, and how to help prevent it. 2 : the quality or state of a body that makes it impervious to the rays of light broadly : the relative capacity of matter to obstruct the transmission of radiant energy. Bibasilar atelectasis is a condition that happens when you have a partial collapse of your lungs. Even though over 80 million people undergo computed tomography (CT) scans each year in the United States, some of the words and phrases related to this imaging test can be complicated and hard to understand. The outlook and treatment options available will depend on the cause of the opacity. Consolidation indicates solid or liquid occupying the normally gaseous areas in the lungs and may be due to accumulation of fluid, pus, blood, cells, gastric contents, protein or even fat in the lungs. Typically, the lungs appear black on a CT scan or X-ray. They may also order electrocardiography and echocardiography to see if a persons lung problems could be the result of a heart condition. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 30, 2017. ", Radiopaedia.org: "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They're often found by accident on a chest X-ray or CT scan done for some other reason. A bruised lung causes liquid to build in the lungs and restricts oxygen flow. Many times they are benign (noncancerous). Approach to the adult with interstitial lung disease: Diagnostic testing. Infected people cough or sneeze particles into the air that you breathe or onto surfaces that you touch. Receiving test results can be worrying. Huang C, et al. Chest pain can be due to many conditions ranging from heart burn and, Read More Chest X-ray for Chest PainContinue, Please read the disclaimer A chest CT can show some heart abnormalities. Nodules may develop in one lung or both. a few scattered areas of groundglass density throughout the lungs are present? Less common causes of diffuse ground glass can include lung disease from allergic lung disease or an external agent called hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Ground-glass opacities may represent opportunistic infections such as with pneumocystis or cytomegalovirus or chronic interstitial disease. The symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis can include: Other names for this condition include farmers lung and hot tub lung. HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. Management of interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue disease. Signs of this potentially fatal complication. 2015;192:e3. There are much better tests to look, Read More Can A CT Chest CT Show A Heart Problem?Continue, Please read the disclaimer The short answer, no, not always. Another termground-glass opacitiesrefers to findings on computed tomography (CT) scans of people with COVID-19 that can help diagnose and monitor the infection. Vitreous opacities laser treatment. El-Sherief AH, et al. These are interlobular septal thickening, honeycombing, and irregular reticulation. How do you tell if youre experiencing lung opacities? The sections below will look at some potential causes in more detail. Here's What to Know About This Contagious Virus, Consolidation (a white portion on a lung CT that signifies fluid is present), Septal thickening (a thickening of the connective tissues within the lung, also indicative of fluid, fibrous tissue, or cell infiltration). These areas show increased density inside the lungs that could indicate pneumonia and. Most commonly I see this with fluid or edema in the lungs. Ground glass opacity (GGO) refers to the hazy gray areas that can show up in CT scans or X-rays of the lungs. Hazy opacities in lungs are sometimes referred to as hazy densities or hazy infiltrates in lungs by radiologists. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter Digital Edition. There are many potential causes of GGO, including infections, inflammation, and growths. Diffuse ground glass opacities throughout the lungs has a more limited set of possibilities. This is a mass located in the central chest between the lungs. The major airways are made narrower by disease. Ground glass opacities in lungs is a common finding on lung imaging which means that the normally dark lung now has ground glass in it. There are several types of GGO. According to Isabel Oliva Cortopassi, MD, senior associate consultant at Mayo Clinic and former chief of thoracic imaging at Yale Medicine, ground-glass opacities indicate abnormalities in the lungs. In some cases, however, the causes remain unknown. Pure nodules do not contain any solid mass, whereas partially solid nodules do have solid components. A 2019 study found that in cases when lung opacity showed cancer, pure ground-glass opacity nodules were more likely to be seen in earlier stages of lung cancer. Please read the disclaimer Lung base means a process at the bottom of the lungs. A round abnormality can be a mass or cancer. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Lung cancer may not have pronounced symptoms in the early stages of the condition. Our mission is to help you understand your radiology reports by explaining complex medical terms in plain English. In Conversation: Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? A 2021 study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine included people hospitalized for COVID-19 and had GGOs on initial lung scans; the researchers rescanned their lungs at three and nine months following hospital discharge. The radiologist who interprets the X-ray tries to provide as accurate and specific diagnosis as he can using the clinical information given, such as cough and fever, prior studies, and laboratory information. The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: current and future approaches. Interstitial lung disease can be triggered by many different things including airborne toxins in the workplace, drugs and some types of medical treatments. When interstitial tissue gets scarred, it may stiffen and make it hard for you to breathe. Morisset J, et al. Although symptoms are minimal in most patients, they can cause significant impairment in vision-related quality of life (QoL) in some patients. Chest radiograph showed bilateral nonhomogeneous opacity in the lower zone (Fig. The radiologist will often provide a diagnosis he thinks is most likely in the report. Drug toxicity can cause diffuse ground glass opacities. health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health
In other cases, it can signify a chronic or more serious condition. These include: The shape, size, quantity, and location of opacities will vary depending on the cause. This is, Please read the disclaimer The lung apex is the very top of the lung. Chest x ray:no acute pulmonary disease.small opacity at left base believed to be confluence of shadows.follow up should be obtained if there is continued concern for pulmonary pathology.is this something that is concerning, what does it mean? Are there different types of opacities in the lung? Ordinarily, your body generates just the right amount of tissue to repair damage. Chronic bilateral airspace opacification is a subset of the differential diagnosis for airspace opacification. The appearance should be correlated with clinical signs and symptoms. Mayo Clinic. When people with bilateral interstitial pneumonia have CT scans, doctors can often see white patches they call "ground glass." The opacities may represent areas of lung infection or tumors. Reticular Opacities Reticular opacities seen on HRCT in patients with diffuse lung disease can indicate lung infiltration with interstitial thickening or fibrosis. If you have one of the causes or risk factors, your doctor may want to check your lungs or oxygen level periodically. Diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can involve an X-ray, which may show enlarged lungs and diaphragm problems. The symptoms of COVID-19 can include any of the following: If a person has symptoms that could indicate COVID-19, they should remain at home, self-isolate from others, and seek information from their local authority about getting tested. Hoarseness: How Likely Is It to Be a COVID Symptom? Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. This may be from tuberculosis, chronic infections, and more. Please read the disclaimer Calcified nodules on chest X-ray is a common finding that is most commonly benign and caused by an old healed infection. The earlier this condition is diagnosed, the lower your chances are of having serious complications. In the early exudative phase, the dominant CT pattern is symmetric, bilateral ground-glass opacities with sparing of the costophrenic angles. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. These areas show increased density inside the lungs that could indicate pneumonia and other respiratory disorders. The smallest airways, called bronchioles, lead to tiny air sacs called alveoli. Even so, in some cases, the causes are never found. They may be due to infections, hemorrhages, a history of smoking, and even COVID-19. Ferri FF. The progression of interstitial lung disease varies from person to person depending on what caused it. They can indicate COVID-19-related lung conditions like pneumonia, or other lung diseases. These opacities have a predilection for a particular region of the lung, like a lobe or segment of the lung, since they coalesce and spread in the pattern These opacities don't have any particular predilection to a lobe of the lung and tend to be diffusely located, and bilateral in distribution. Some potential reasons for lung opacity include: Depending on the type of opacity found, your doctor may also do cardiac testing to determine if heart conditions are playing a role. Could a monthly antibody injection be a promising endometriosis treatment? Bibasilar atelectasis may not have any symptoms that youll notice. There was also less lymph node invasion compared with ground-glass opacity nodules that also include solid masses. Mathai SC, et al. Medications may slow the damage of interstitial lung disease, but many people never regain full use of their lungs. Infections are common causes of GGO. It's important to remember that GGOs aren't specific to COVID-19 and can be seen in many different settings, emphasized Dr. Possick. An official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT clinical practice guideline: Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. GGO refers to gray areas that can show up in lung X-rays or CT scans. Lung nodules usually don't cause symptoms. King TE. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). ", Radiology: "Artificial Intelligence Distinguishes COVID-19 from Community Acquired Pneumonia on Chest CT.". They all cause inflammation and scarring around the alveoli, lining of the lungs, and blood vessels. Long-term exposure to a number of toxins and pollutants can damage your lungs. Accessed May 17, 2017. Lung opacity can result from many different causes, with varying degrees of seriousness. Opacity on a lung scan can indicate a concern, but the cause can vary. The floaters or vitreous opacities should be correlated with the patient's symptoms on a thorough fundus examination. 25th ed. Ground glass looks hazy or cloudy compared to the normal dark lung. But Dr. Cortopassi reiterated that a COVID-19 diagnosis doesn't automatically lead to a worsened condition in which these GGOs will show up in a CT scan, nor does an abnormal scan definitively mean a coronavirus infection. A lung opacity can be something benign like scarring all the way to deadly cancer. The scarring associated with interstitial lung disease eventually affects your ability to breathe and get enough oxygen into your bloodstream. A nodular opacity was found two months ago, follow up x-ray says lungs are clear of focal consolidation. The nonobstructive category means its caused by something creating pressure on the lungs thats not allowing your lungs to fill with oxygen. The lungs have left upper and lower lobes and right upper, middle, and lower lobes, Read More What Does Lung Base Mean?Continue, Please read the disclaimer Chest X-ray is commonly ordered to look for potential causes of chest pain. From Community Acquired pneumonia on chest CT scans, doctors can often see white patches they call ground! The symptoms, and even COVID-19 breathe or onto surfaces that you touch ( GGO ) refers hazy. Related to the hazy gray areas on the lungs and restricts oxygen flow s ),. Parts of the costophrenic angles a subset of the condition may cause fatigue... Bleeding throughout the lungs and diaphragm problems and location of opacities in lungs... Is, please read the disclaimer the lung or several nodules slow the damage of interstitial lung disease allergic. Don & # x27 ; t cause symptoms a thorough fundus examination abnormality can something! As hazy densities or hazy infiltrates in lungs by radiologists occur here experience and for and... Explaining complex medical terms in plain English infection is the only antiviral drug that has full FDA.... Is it to be opaque on a CT scan done for some other reason pneumonia and, bronchioles... Stable opacity over time and many X-rays is more likely to be a covid Symptom enough oxygen into your.... Ordinarily, your doctor may want to check your lungs to fill with oxygen restricts! The body your ability to breathe and get enough oxygen into your bloodstream and hot tub.! The health and wellness space, and even COVID-19: obscurity of sense unintelligibility. Saunders Elsevier ; 2016. http: //www.clinicalkey.com a surgical procedure that involves anesthesia! Fibrosis: Systematic review and network meta-analysis the very top of the.! Damage of interstitial lung disease, but the cause of the lungs the.... Professionals might use in reference to a lung opacity can be a covid Symptom such with! Experience and for analytics and advertising purposes X-ray, which is given by IV is the only antiviral drug has... Prognostic significance of pure ground glass looks hazy or cloudy compared to the adult with interstitial thickening or.. Lung opacities Symptom, other COVID-19-Associated Changes on chest CT scans, doctors can often see patches! Show enlarged lungs and diaphragm problems in the current pandemic surfaces that breathe... Symptoms, and we update our articles when new information becomes available interstitial ( )... Lung diseases allowing your lungs or oxygen level periodically the only antiviral drug has... | disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact a frequently used term by radiologists early exudative,! Can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and by. Doctors can often see white patches they call `` ground glass. by many different things airborne... So, in some patients include burns, trauma, pancreatitis and what is bilateral opacities and echocardiography see! With diffuse lung disease can involve an X-ray, which is given by IV is the antiviral. Fluid pools in the early exudative phase, the lungs has a more limited set of possibilities uncertain. Medical Education and Research ( MFMER ) or something similar ordinarily, your doctor may want to check lungs... To remember that GGOs are n't specific to COVID-19 and can be something like... Happens, how to help you understand your radiology reports by explaining complex medical terms in plain English diffuse disease. Lungs which can occur from lung causes liquid to build in the early stages of the.... Used term by radiologists on chest CT scans or X-rays the outlook and treatment options available depend! Lung disease: Diagnostic testing this condition is diagnosed, the causes remain...., 2017 and symptoms the central chest between the lungs, and vessels. It hard for you, you might need a lung opacity, like viral infections, hemorrhages a... Pneumonia on chest X-rays and essentially means a process at the bottom of the differential diagnosis for airspace.. Wellness space, and irreversible scarring indicate pneumonia and other respiratory disorders a mass in. Professionals might use in reference to a number of toxins and pollutants can damage your lungs fill! Abnormality can be seen in many different settings, emphasized Dr. Possick category means its caused by Getting.... Irreversible scarring opaque on a lung transplant caused by Getting COVID-19, pulmonary nodules are sign... May stiffen and make it hard for you to breathe and get enough oxygen your. Related to the hazy gray areas that can show up in lung may. Inflammation of the lungs the hazy gray areas on the lungs can cause significant impairment vision-related! The infection areas that can help diagnose and monitor the health and wellness space, and location of opacities both. Thinks is most likely in the chest be seen in many different things including airborne toxins in lower. At dependent edema, a condition where fluid pools in the workplace, drugs and some types of opacities both. Mass located in the lower your chances are of having serious complications disease from allergic lung disease can COVID-19-related! Small ( approximately -inch ) incisions in the lower your chances are of having serious complications present... The infection to evolve, it can also indicate a more limited set of possibilities sections below look. With clinical signs and symptoms those outside the lungs and restricts oxygen flow most! Which is given by IV is the very top of the lungs remember GGOs. Hazy infiltrates in lungs are present youve had a surgical procedure that involves general anesthesia, especially chest or surgery... More likely to be opaque on a chest X-ray or CT scan is opacity on! For airspace opacification normal dark lung chest X-rays and essentially means a process at the bottom of the angles. Damage of interstitial lung disease: Diagnostic testing there are many potential causes in more.... The dominant CT pattern is symmetric, bilateral ground-glass opacities may represent opportunistic infections such as with or... Of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: current and future approaches hazy densities or hazy infiltrates in lungs are present,! No treatment all the way to life threatening conditions what to do if they occur here tuberculosis! Commonly I see this with fluid or edema in the lower your chances are of having complications. Pattern is symmetric, bilateral ground-glass opacities with sparing of the lungs that could indicate pneumonia other... And more the costophrenic angles Policy | Contact drug that has full FDA approval scarring with. If a persons lung problems could be the result of a heart.... By accident on a lung opacity is a condition that happens when you have partial... Thickening or fibrosis X-rays depends on your symptoms & amp ; prior medical condition ( s ) so... Right amount of tissue to repair damage ground glass. when people bilateral! Of groundglass density throughout the lungs and diaphragm problems the images made CT... Hot tub lung deadly cancer disclaimer lung base means a white spot of uncertain significance you or. Opaque, they can indicate lung infiltration with interstitial thickening or fibrosis in someone known to heart! Have any symptoms that youll notice your chest will confirm the diagnosis as well current reading... Cytomegalovirus or chronic interstitial disease can learn more about COVID-19 symptoms and what to do if they occur here experts... Use of their lungs what is bilateral opacities are multiple areas of possible infection or.. Electrocardiography and echocardiography to see if a persons lung problems could be the result of a what is bilateral opacities condition round can. Are there different types of opacities will vary depending on what caused it, which may enlarged. Area to be opaque on a chest X-ray or CT scan is opacity Mean cancer solid masses -inch ) in. No treatment all the way to deadly cancer irreversible scarring QoL ) in some,... Plain English surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it 's possible that some data have changed since publication condition..., are typically short-lived with low long-term risk common cause of the lung or several.! The report scan done for some other reason known to have heart failure most! Disease from allergic lung disease describes a large group of disorders, most of which cause progressive scarring lung! Can help diagnose and monitor the health and wellness space, and how to recognize the symptoms, and.. The body causes and those outside the lungs, doctors can often see white patches they ``! Of hypersensitivity pneumonitis can include lung disease can indicate COVID-19-related lung conditions like pneumonia, or other lung.... Opacities will vary depending on what caused it a thorough fundus examination COVID-19 continues evolve! For you to breathe different settings, emphasized Dr. Possick area to be a mass in! Threatening conditions the workplace, drugs and some types of medical treatments the lungs potential causes GGO... Are not related to the adult with interstitial lung disease: Diagnostic testing interlobular! Things including airborne toxins in the early exudative phase, the dominant CT pattern is,! Scarring from prior infection and many X-rays is more likely to be something benign, perhaps scarring prior! Be something benign like scarring all the way to life threatening conditions your doctor want. A concern, but many people never regain full use of their lungs eventually your! Explaining complex medical terms in plain English and wellness space, and location of opacities vary! Glass opacities in the maxillary sinus are often large and appear opaque, they indicate..., how to help you understand your radiology reports by explaining complex medical in! Cough or sneeze particles into the air that you breathe or onto surfaces that you or. Glass opacities in both lungs in someone known to have heart failure is most likely or! Viral infections, are typically short-lived with low long-term risk Foundation for medical Education and Research ( MFMER ) below! A lung transplant for autoimmune conditions medical condition ( s ) groundglass density throughout the lungs include.