Digital BW, The Print

I am finding a wave like pattern in some highlights of shots from my 
rebel xt.  They are noticable in areas of cloud and particularly of 
mist, and seem to be more obvious after the conversion to B&W.  It is 
hard to describe, but I have seen similar patterns in oily reflections 
when the light hits it just right or at times in translucent white 
curtain material.  Longitudial swirls of varying intensity.

I have never seen anything like it from a scanned negative and wonder 
if it is an artifact of the digital capture process.  Trying to remove 
it with one of the blur tools removes all of the underlying texture as 
well.  Could this be some sort of lens flare specific to a digital 
chip?  It is most obvious in a shot I have taken through mist on a 
bright day.

Any help appreciated.

Steve