Ask a doctor on the topic of Internal medicine

Suspicion of a heart attack-but spot on the lung

July 22, 2015 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello everyone,

I know... you can't take away my fear, but it helps me to exchange thoughts...

My mother (58) was taken to the hospital by ambulance on Saturday:

- Pulse of almost 200
- Cold sweat
- Pressure on the chest, slight pain in the left arm

Previously:
- Was getting out of breath quickly
- Hadn't slept the night before
- Was under stress
- Had hardly eaten or drunk anything

On Sunday, an ultrasound of the heart was done, and they found a small spot - probably on the lung, a small point.

The catheter examination was fine, no arteries blocked or narrowed.

Heart blood levels were elevated until yesterday, then slowly decreased.
Cholesterol level is at 280.

Stress test and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (there were fluctuations between 125/80 and 135/95) were normal.

She is constantly connected to a monitoring device.

Now the doctor thinks it may have been triggered by the spot on the lung and will perform a biopsy under general anesthesia tomorrow.

My mother has had asthma all her life, and occasionally clears her throat - but that has been the case for years.

I am extremely afraid that the small spot means lung cancer :°(

My mother doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, doesn't have diabetes, is not significantly overweight (just a bit chubby) and eats healthy.

A few weeks ago, she was repeatedly cold within maybe 3 weeks - I found that strange.

What could this spot be? I am really scared for her...

Thank you!

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good day,

A small spot on the lung does not sound like a suspicion of lung cancer; and a small lung cancer would never trigger such symptoms! Additionally, non-smokers hardly ever get lung cancer, it would be an absolute rarity. Also, you cannot see a spot on the lung in a heart ultrasound; perhaps enlarged lymph nodes at the lung root were seen, which could be an indication of an infection.

In many respects, you can be reassured. I suspect it was a stress-related heart circulation disorder. That is quite possible.

If you would like to know more, you can write again.

All the best!

Sincerely, Dr. Höllering