lung function test - can anyone explain the results? - Lymphomas Message Board

lymphpre · 08-04-2008, 06:47 AM

I have finally had a test of lung function today, after being breathless since the beginning of my chemo, and more recently experiencing discomfort when I take a deep breath. Unfortunately, at the end of it, I was simply given a print-out, with no explanation of what it means, and no follow-up appointment. In order to save costs, I am obviously intended to take it along to my next chemo appointment, and ask whichever registrar is on duty to explain it, which means waiting another week.

I will probably now trawl the internet trying to find out what this stuff means, but I was wondering if anyone here might be able to help me out?

For each test, parameter is listed, which I assume refers to what is being measured. They are all abreviations, but I can look them up. The next columns are unit, Lower, pred, Upper, Meas and SR. I assume this refers to the lower limit of the normal range, the predicted value (probably the mean), the upper limit, and the measured value (i.e. mine). I have no idea what SR represents, but assume it is some sort of statistic to represent the degree of deviation of the measured value from the predicted value, as this figure is negative when the measured value is below the predicted, and positive when it is above the predicted.

The three tests reported are Spirometry - Flow Volume, Body-Plethysmography, and CO Diffusion.

All of the measures on the Spirometry test seem to be normal, and either close to, or above the predicted vaules.

The body plethysmography test is divided into volumes and resistance. The volumes tests are all close to the predicted values. However, the resistance measures are not. The two parameters reported are RAWtot, and sRAWtot. The measured values for both of these are 0.00.

The CO diffusion measure also does not appear to be normal. The parameter TLco(Hb) has a predicited value of 10.31, and a range of 7.99-12.64. My score was 6.60, which is clearly way below the normal range.

I would really appreciate it if someone could explain some of this to me. On the basis of these figures, it looks to me like there is definately something wrong with my lungs now, and I do not like the idea of waiting another week to find out.

Thanks
Simon

pinkmada · 08-04-2008, 12:48 PM

hey,
i had to have a repeat test during my chemo cause of the bleomycin which they had to stop but according to the nurse that did the tests they were the exact same results as the first one i did. however, last week i was doing CO tests on placement and unless you are a smoker it should be below ten. 0-4 is if you live in a non polluted area but if you live in the city then the number is going to be closer to 10 but shouldnt be above it. but of course i dont know if chemo would affect that.
i dont know if that helps any.
Amanda
x

lymphpre · 08-04-2008, 01:57 PM

Hi Amanda.
I have spent the afternoon reading up on this, but I may have misinterpreted some things. Are we definately talking about the same test? This one involved exhaling, then taking a full lungfull of air with some carbon monoxide. You hold your breath for 10 seconds, then exhale fully. The test compares the amount of CO inhaled, with the amount exhaled to assess how much CO was absorbed by the alveolar cells. I thought that the TLco(Hb) figure represented the amount of CO absorbed, and that a low reading is indicative of the alveolar cells not working properly. Is that not the case?

It seems that this test is highly sensitive to Bleomycin Induced Pneumonitis, although it is not that specific, as other factors can affect this figure. I may be wrong, but I am taking this result to mean that the bleo has affected my lungs.

Best wishes
Simon

pinkmada · 08-06-2008, 03:19 PM

hey,
yeah we are talking about different tests. this one measured how much CO you have in your lungs without having to breathe it in first. the scale was between 0-80 so definatly not the same test.

it was really near the end of my treatment (i think the last 2) and i was getting short of breath walking up my stairs etc and they said that there have been links to the bleo damaging the lining of the lungs and so they would stop it and i had to have repeat peak flow tests etc and the nurse said they were all the exact same as when i first started treatment but they kept me off the bleo anyway just in case.

sorry i wish i could be more help, i dont know what any of it means and i cant find it in any of my text books

speak soon
amanda
xx

lymphpre · 08-07-2008, 05:25 AM

Hi Amanda,

similar situation, only I started getting out of breath after about the first month. My consultant had told me that bleo could do this, and if I developed a cough or breathlessness, I should mention it and they would drop the bleo. I mentionned it every single time I went in, and nobody took any notice until the last couple of cycles. Trouble is, once you start treatment, you have no further contact with your consultant. The drs you see are either junior docs, who change every couple of months, or a registrar, who in my case was somewhat disinterested. I now even get out of breath walking from the car park to the hospital, and it's not getting any better.

On the one hand, we have a great system here with free healthcare at the point of delivery. The downside is that the NHS was never designed to deal with the current volume of patients, so you end up with enormous delays for both tests and treatment, and treatment protocols which cut corners. I was quite amazed when I read you had a PET scan. As far as I know, there are hardly any PET scanners in the UK. Edinburgh and London are probably the only places where you will find one. As for fMRI, I believe all the scanners are university-owned: don't think there is a single one being used for non-research clinical work. In Bristol, you can opt to have your chemo in a new treatment centre that has been set up. This is completely nurse-led, with no doctors on site at all. I feel distinctly uneasy about the way this is all going.

Best wishes
Simon