Spots on the lungs as revealed by a chest x-ray are usually indicators of some type of lung disease. Chest x-rays that reveal spots or lesions of the lung tissue involve the structure of the lung tissue. Scarring or inflammation of the tissue make it hard for the lungs to expand during breathing, and patients complain of not being able to get a good breath or feeling short of breath. Multiple causes of spots on the lungs exist.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is one of the world's deadliest diseases. In 2008, there were more than 12,000 cases of reported TB in the United States. One percent of these cases were multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a contagious disease of the lung tissue and causes symptoms of weakness, fatigue, weight loss, coughing and hemoptysis, or the coughing up of blood.
Tuberculosis is spread when a person coughs or sneezes and another person inhales the infected respiratory droplets.Tuberculosis on a chest x-ray is described as a cavitating lesion because the tuberculosis pathogen eats a cavity into the lung tissue.
Lung Abscess
The spot of a lung abscess on a chest x-ray is a pus-filled cavity within the lung. A lung abscess occurs when infected oral secretions are aspirated into the lungs. Patients with poor oral hygiene or gingivitis will have germs in their secretions, that if aspirated, infect the lung. Alcoholics or those with other reasons for altered mental status may aspirate these infected secretions. according to the Merck Manual Online Medical Library.
Symptoms of a lung abscess include fever, cough, night sweats and weight loss. Sputum may be purulent or blood-streaked and smell foul. Treatment consists of intravenous antibiotics.
Lung Cancer
According to MayoClinic.com, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women. Lung cancer can appear on a chest x-ray as a spot or nodule in the lungs. Smokers have the greatest risk of lung cancer. Other risk factors include exposure to second-hand smoke, family history and time spent in environments with radon gas or asbestosis.
Symptoms of lung cancer include shortness of breath, coughing up blood, chest pain, hoarseness and weight loss. Treatment for lung cancer can consist of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
