pulmonologist suspects atypical form microbacterium by CT scan of chest. friend is on remicade, has RA, and unable to give sputum culture. No other symptoms. Friend never runs fevers. With RA, this person only gets chills. This person has had a RA positive test by blood. Pulmonologist recommends bronchoscopy, with cell washing, and may take a piece (biopsy). There was a 3 mm size nodule in left middle lobe.Question
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I want to ask you few questions1. Age of your friend2. Is he smoker3? What are his symptoms and since how long he is having this. If your friend is young, non-smoker and not having any symptoms than I advise not to go for bronchoscopy at present. You can wait and get done repeat scan after 6 months. But if he is smoker, old age and symptomatic than, no harm in bronchoscopy and BAD analysis and biopsy.