I'm 40 and quit smoking about 6 weeks ago. During the first 2 weeks I had a lot of left side chest pain and experienced a lot, and I mean a lot of coughing. As it turns out, I had an infection in my chest. After antibiotics, a breathing treatment, and not smoking for 6 weeks, I feel much better. The coughing is gone and I have stopped wheezing. A regular chest x-ray was fine.

I went to my doctor because of the chest pain and he sent me for a CT scan to rule out an embolism. During the CT scan, the radiologist reported a 3 mm calcified granuloma and a 7mm oval lucency with a sclerotic rim of marination on my right lung suggestive of a nonagressive lesion. A follow up scan would be recommnded in 3 months if symptoms are referrable to this area. It is of indeterminate origin.

My doctor has referred me to a pulmonologist. He said it is his policy to refer anyone with any CT scan findings to a specialist. He also said he would not be concerned about the leasion. These apparently are common occurrences in lung CT scans. He says many people have them (including his son) and this one is small and does not have the characteristics of cancer. Most of them turn out to nothing and is quite possible that it is left over from pneumonia or a lung infection.

I'm quite concerned. Is this anything to be overly concerned about?