Calcine (it is also called petrificate) in the lung is a site of the affected tissue or intrathoracic lymph node, surrounded by a capsule of calcium salts, a kind of scar or scar on the affected area of the organ.
Every year, every person who cares about his state of health should visit the radiologist’s office in order to conduct routine fluorography. Sometimes in conclusion, you can read unfamiliar words that the patient has petrificates in the lungs. A person who is not dedicated to medical terminology immediately wants to know what it is and also begins to worry if such a diagnosis is life-threatening. Meanwhile, in most of these situations it’s not worth worrying at all.
Description
The lungs are not the only organ of the human body in which these elements can be detected. They can appear in any parenchymal tissue, for example, in the renal, in the structure of the thyroid gland or prostate gland. Petrificates in the lungs are the result of the fight of immunity with the focus of inflammation. They also occur after the body struggles with the focus of accumulation of mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Morphologically, the petrificate is a site of altered lung tissue surrounded by a dense membrane that is saturated with Ca salts. The main purpose of the calcification process is to stop the pathological process within the parenchyma of this organ by replacing the dead foci and delimiting the site of development of mycobacteria. What are the main factors affecting the occurrence of single petrificates in the lungs?
Reasons for the appearance
There are many reasons for petrification:
- The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
- The development of microabscess.
- The appearance of a foreign body in the respiratory tract.
- The occurrence of helminthic invasion.
- The consequence of transferred pneumonia.
- Failure in calcium metabolism.
- The presence of an oncological process in the lung tissue.
- The presence of injury.
- The effect of an aggressive physical or chemical agent.
- A factor of congenital pathology, which, however, is very rare.
- Inflammatory change in the tissue of neighboring organs.
Next, we turn to the consideration of the mechanism of development of such a phenomenon.
Development mechanism
In the pathogenesis of the formation of petrificates in the lungs, several of the following points are distinguished:
- Penetrating into the body, mycobacterium tuberculosis multiply in the lung tissue, forming a granuloma.
- The body's immune system begins to fight them.
- In order for the pathological focus to be isolated, a dense capsule is formed around it, which includes immune cells like lymphocytes, macrophages, epithelioid elements.
- Over time, the outer shell of the capsule begins to become saturated with calcium salts.
Diagnostics
After calcified areas of lung tissue are displayed on the fluorogram, a number of additional studies are usually required to monitor the activity of the pathology, for example:
- Submission of a clinical blood test.
- Biochemical analysis.
- Enzyme immunoassay for parasitic antigens.
- Conducting computed tomography.
- Performing diaskintest, bronchoscopy and analysis of sputum for microflora.
- Radiography of the lungs in special projections.
- Conducting ultrasound diagnostics.
- Performing electrocardiography.
In the event that after the examination there is no active focus of tuberculosis and the patient does not complain, it will not be necessary to treat small petrificates in the lungs. In order to control the situation, it is necessary to do fluorography annually, visiting a pulmonologist. In order for the attending doctor to be able to track the dynamics of changes in tissue sites, you must have all the previous pictures with you.
How to treat petrificates in the lungs? Let's consider further.
Treatment
In the event that, during the course of the studies, the presence of a structural change in the lung parenchyma was diagnosed, the appropriate treatment will be required. Its appearance directly depends on the etiological cause of the pathological change.
If a focus of active tuberculosis is detected, the patient will need intensive therapy with anti-TB drugs (Rifampicin, Isoniazid). The presence of helminthic invasions involves therapy with antiparasitic agents (Vermox, Dekaris, Pyrantel). When oncological diseases develop in the lung tissue, it is necessary to prescribe antitumor therapy to a person as soon as possible.
Large, and at the same time, multiple petrificates in the lungs, which significantly violate the quality of life of patients, are very rare. They can be fixed promptly. To restore normal respiratory functions, therapeutic exercises in combination with a special massage can be prescribed. Sanatorium and resort treatment is recommended for such patients.
Prevention
In order to avoid the occurrence of such a phenomenon as petrificates in the lung parenchyma, preventive measures are required:
- Maximum exclusion of hypothermia factor.
- Timely seeking medical help in case of the first manifestations of respiratory tract pathology.
- Refusal of a bad habit in the form of smoking, consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Maintaining an exceptionally active lifestyle, that is, we are talking about daily long walks in the fresh air and performing exercises.
- Compliance with proper nutrition. It is necessary to consume a large amount of fresh vegetables with fruits, include honey, walnuts, dried apricots, raisins, prunes in the diet.
- Management of chronic concomitant diseases.
- Compliance with rest and sleep.
- The use of personal hygiene products and separate utensils.
Petrificates in the lungs do not act as a rough pathology and in most situations they will not require treatment. The immediate cause of complaints from patients, they become very rare. Having seen such a term in your medical record, you should not be nervous at all. Usually, the presence of petrificates indicates a good condition of the immune system, which independently coped with the problem that has arisen, that is, it indicates that the pathological site was delimited from healthy tissues. In order to sleep peacefully, it will be enough to regularly visit a pulmonologist and through radiography to monitor the general condition.
Petrification of the lungs in breast cancer
Breast cancer with such elements in the lungs is detected quite often. This can be explained by the fact that, despite the fact that an oncological formation can give metastases to any organ, areas that are located close to the primary focus are at greater risk. Metastases can form from a detached cell of a primary tumor. Against this background, it is worth considering that they can manifest themselves even after many years. There is no scientific explanation for this phenomenon yet. But it is known that under the negative influence of certain factors, such cells can begin to divide, while forming a whole system of blood vessels.
Finally
Thus, in most cases, petrificates are traces of the pathological process, but can sometimes be found in tumors. So, pinpoint calcine, visible on mammograms, is noted in patients and with breast cancer.
We examined what petrificates are in the roots of the lungs.