How does a CT scan detect cancer. What are the benefits of CT scans in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Who performs CT scans and where can you get one. How to prepare for a CT scan and what to expect during the procedure.

Understanding CT Scans in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Computed Tomography (CT) scans, also known as CAT scans, play a crucial role in the field of oncology. These advanced imaging techniques provide valuable insights for cancer detection, staging, and treatment planning. But how exactly do CT scans contribute to cancer care?

CT scans utilize X-rays from multiple angles to create detailed, three-dimensional images of the body’s internal structures. This technology allows oncologists to:

• Identify the presence and location of tumors
• Determine the stage of cancer
• Guide biopsy procedures
• Plan radiation therapy
• Monitor treatment effectiveness
• Detect potential cancer recurrence during follow-up care

The ability to visualize abnormal growths and assess their size, shape, and relationship to surrounding tissues makes CT scans an indispensable tool in modern cancer management.

The Science Behind CT Scanning Technology

CT scanners employ sophisticated technology to produce high-resolution images of the body’s interior. But how does this process work?

As the patient lies on a table that moves through a doughnut-shaped machine, X-ray beams rotate around the body, capturing cross-sectional images. A computer then combines these images to create a detailed 3D representation of the scanned area.

To enhance image clarity, some patients receive a contrast medium before the scan. This dye, which can be injected intravenously or consumed orally, helps highlight specific body structures or blood vessels, making abnormalities more visible.

Common Areas Scanned for Cancer

CT scans can examine various parts of the body, depending on the type of cancer suspected or being monitored. Frequently scanned areas include:

• Head and neck
• Chest
• Abdomen
• Pelvis
• Limbs

A “total body” CT scan typically covers the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, providing a comprehensive overview for cancer staging purposes.

Balancing Benefits and Risks of CT Scans

While CT scans offer significant advantages in cancer care, it’s essential to consider potential risks. Do the benefits of CT scans outweigh the concerns?

In most cases, the answer is yes. The valuable information obtained from CT scans generally justifies the minimal risks involved. However, it’s important to be aware of the following considerations:

• Radiation exposure: CT scans involve low doses of radiation, which have not been shown to cause immediate harm. However, there may be a slight increased risk of cancer in the future, particularly for children or individuals requiring multiple scans.
• Contrast medium reactions: Some patients may experience allergic reactions to the contrast dye, ranging from mild itching to more severe symptoms.

To mitigate these risks, doctors often use low-dose CT scans for children or limit the scanned area when possible. Patients undergoing multiple scans should discuss alternative imaging options with their healthcare providers.

Integrated PET-CT Scans: A Powerful Diagnostic Combination

In some cases, oncologists may recommend an integrated PET-CT scan. This advanced imaging technique combines the strengths of both Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and CT scans. But what makes this combination so effective?

PET-CT scans provide a comprehensive view of the body’s structure and function. While CT scans offer detailed anatomical images, PET scans reveal metabolic activity, which can help identify cancerous cells that may not be visible on CT alone.

By performing both scans simultaneously, doctors can:

• More accurately locate and characterize tumors
• Differentiate between benign and malignant lesions
• Assess treatment response more effectively
• Detect cancer recurrence earlier

This combined approach often provides more valuable information than either scan could offer independently, leading to more precise diagnoses and treatment plans.

CT Scan Providers: Who Performs These Important Tests?

Understanding who conducts CT scans can help patients feel more comfortable with the procedure. Where can you get a CT scan, and who will be involved in the process?

CT scans are typically performed at:

• Hospital radiology departments
• Radiation oncology centers
• Outpatient imaging facilities

The scan itself is conducted by a radiologic technologist, a healthcare professional specially trained in operating imaging equipment. After the scan, a diagnostic radiologist interprets the images and prepares a report for the patient’s oncologist or referring physician.

This collaborative approach ensures that patients receive high-quality scans and accurate interpretations, supporting informed decision-making in their cancer care.

Preparing for Your CT Scan: Essential Steps for a Successful Procedure

Proper preparation is key to ensuring a smooth and effective CT scan experience. What steps should patients take before their appointment?

When scheduling your CT scan, the healthcare facility will provide specific instructions tailored to your situation. However, general preparation guidelines often include:

Dietary Restrictions

Depending on the area being scanned, you may be asked to:

• Consume only clear liquids starting at midnight before your appointment
• Avoid eating or drinking for at least 4 hours prior to the scan
• Follow no specific dietary restrictions (for certain types of scans)

Always confirm the exact instructions with your healthcare team to ensure optimal scan results.

Clothing Considerations

To minimize interference with the scanning process:

• Wear loose-fitting clothing without metal zippers or buttons
• Be prepared to remove jewelry, belts, and other metal accessories
• Consider bringing a change of clothes in case you need to wear a hospital gown

Medical History and Concerns

Before your scan, be ready to discuss:

• Current medications and supplements
• Any existing medical conditions, such as diabetes
• Drug or food allergies
• Previous reactions to iodine or contrast media
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding status

Open communication with your healthcare team ensures a safe and effective CT scan experience.

The CT Scan Procedure: What to Expect During Your Appointment

Knowing what happens during a CT scan can help alleviate anxiety and ensure a smooth experience. What should patients anticipate on the day of their scan?

Upon arrival at the imaging facility, you’ll be asked to change into a hospital gown if necessary and remove any metal objects. The radiologic technologist will then guide you through the following steps:

1. Positioning: You’ll lie on a table that slides into the CT scanner, a large, doughnut-shaped machine.
2. Contrast medium administration (if required): This may be given orally, intravenously, or both, depending on the scan type.
3. Scanning: The table will move slowly through the scanner as it captures images. You’ll need to remain still and may be asked to hold your breath briefly at times.
4. Duration: Most CT scans take between 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the area being examined.

During the scan, you may hear whirring or buzzing sounds from the machine. The technologist will monitor you from an adjacent room and communicate via intercom if needed.

Potential Sensations and Side Effects

While CT scans are generally painless, some patients may experience:

• A warm sensation or metallic taste in the mouth from contrast medium injection
• Mild itching or discomfort at the injection site
• A feeling of needing to urinate (due to the contrast dye)

These effects typically subside quickly. However, inform the technologist immediately if you experience more severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or intense itching.

After the CT Scan: Next Steps in Your Cancer Care Journey

Once your CT scan is complete, you may wonder about the next steps in your cancer care process. What happens after you leave the imaging facility?

Immediately following the scan:

• You can resume normal activities, including eating and drinking, unless otherwise instructed.
• If you received contrast medium, you’ll be encouraged to drink plenty of water to help flush it from your system.
• The radiologist will analyze the images and prepare a report for your oncologist or referring physician.

Typically, you’ll need to wait for your next appointment with your doctor to discuss the results. This allows time for the radiologist to thoroughly review the images and for your doctor to consider the findings in the context of your overall health and treatment plan.

Understanding Your CT Scan Results

When reviewing your CT scan results with your doctor, you may want to ask:

• What did the scan reveal about your condition?
• How do these findings impact your diagnosis or treatment plan?
• Are there any areas of concern that require further investigation?
• Will additional scans or other imaging tests be necessary?

Remember, CT scans are just one tool in the comprehensive approach to cancer care. Your healthcare team will use these results in conjunction with other tests and your overall health assessment to make informed decisions about your treatment.

Innovations in CT Technology: Advancing Cancer Detection and Treatment

The field of CT imaging continues to evolve, with new technologies enhancing its capabilities in cancer care. What recent advancements are shaping the future of CT scans in oncology?

Several innovative developments are improving the accuracy, safety, and efficiency of CT scans:

Dual-Energy CT

This technology uses two different energy levels to create images, allowing for better tissue characterization and reduced artifacts. Benefits include:

• Improved detection of small tumors
• Enhanced differentiation between benign and malignant lesions
• Reduced need for additional imaging studies

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration

AI algorithms are being developed to assist radiologists in interpreting CT scans. Potential advantages include:

• Faster and more consistent image analysis
• Improved detection of subtle abnormalities
• Enhanced workflow efficiency in radiology departments

Low-Dose CT Protocols

Advancements in scanner technology and image reconstruction techniques are enabling high-quality scans with lower radiation doses. This is particularly beneficial for:

• Pediatric patients
• Individuals requiring frequent follow-up scans
• Screening programs, such as lung cancer screening in high-risk populations

These innovations promise to further enhance the role of CT scans in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.

CT Scans and Personalized Cancer Care: Tailoring Treatment to Individual Needs

As cancer treatment becomes increasingly personalized, CT scans play a crucial role in developing tailored therapeutic approaches. How do these imaging studies contribute to individualized cancer care?

CT scans provide valuable information that helps oncologists customize treatment plans based on each patient’s unique circumstances:

Precise Tumor Characterization

• Size and location of tumors
• Extent of disease spread (metastasis)
• Involvement of surrounding tissues and organs

This detailed information allows doctors to select the most appropriate treatment modalities and tailor their approach to each patient’s specific cancer presentation.

Treatment Planning and Monitoring

• Guiding surgical interventions by providing detailed anatomical information
• Assisting in the precise planning of radiation therapy to maximize tumor targeting while minimizing damage to healthy tissues
• Evaluating treatment response and adjusting therapies as needed

Regular CT scans during treatment enable oncologists to assess the effectiveness of chosen therapies and make timely adjustments to optimize outcomes.

Risk Stratification

CT scans help categorize patients into different risk groups based on factors such as:

• Tumor characteristics
• Disease stage
• Presence of metastases

This stratification guides treatment intensity and follow-up protocols, ensuring that each patient receives the most appropriate level of care.

Survivorship Care

After completing initial treatment, CT scans continue to play a vital role in:

• Monitoring for cancer recurrence
• Detecting potential long-term treatment effects
• Guiding ongoing survivorship care plans

By incorporating CT scans into personalized cancer care strategies, healthcare providers can offer more targeted, effective, and patient-centered treatment approaches, ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life for individuals facing cancer.

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan | Cancer.Net

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 02/2020

Doctors use a computed tomography (CT) scan, also called a CAT scan, to find cancer. They may also use it to learn more about the cancer after they find it. The scan lets them:

• Learn the cancer’s stage. Knowing this helps you and your doctor choose the best treatment options. It also helps doctors predict how well you will recover.

• Find the right place for a biopsy.

• Plan radiation therapy for cancer treatment.

• See how well treatment is working during the treatment period.

• Check for new cancer growth after treatment ends during follow-up care.

How does a CT scan work?

A CT scan takes pictures of the inside of the body using x-rays taken from many angles. A computer combines these pictures into a detailed, 3-dimensional image. This image will show abnormal areas and any tumors.

Some people receive a special dye called a contrast medium before the scan. When injected in your vein, the contrast dye travels through the bloodstream and helps create a clearer picture of specific parts of your body. It may also be given as a liquid to swallow, depending on what part of your body needs to be scanned.

Areas commonly scanned for cancer include the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, or limbs. A “total body” CT scan generally includes at least the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Doctors often use this is for cancer staging.

The benefits of having a CT scan usually outweigh the risks. During a CT scan, you will be exposed to a small amount of radiation. This low dose of radiation has not been shown to cause harm. For children or for people who need multiple CT scans and x-rays, there may be a small potential increased risk of cancer in the future. In many cases, doctors will use low-dose CT scans for children or limit the area that needs to be scanned. If you are having multiple CT scans and x-rays, ask your doctor about tests that lessen your exposure to radiation.

What is an integrated PET-CT scan?

Your doctor might suggest an integrated PET-CT scan. This combines pictures from a CT scan and another scan called Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The machine does both scans at once. When this test is recommended, your doctor can learn more from the 2 scans together than from either test alone.

Who does my CT scan?

You can have a CT scan done at the radiology or radiation oncology center of a hospital. You can also do it at an outpatient imaging center. A radiologic technologist performs the scan. A diagnostic radiologist reads the scan and decides what it means.

How can I prepare for my CT scan?

When you schedule your CT scan, the hospital or center staff will tell you how to prepare.

What to eat. The staff may tell you to drink only clear liquids starting at midnight the night before your appointment. They may also tell you not to eat or drink for at least 4 hours before the scan. For scans of some parts of the body, it is okay to eat and drink at any time prior. Ask your health care team for specific instructions for your test to be sure.

What to wear. Wear loose fitting clothing without metal zippers or buttons. You will need to remove any clothing that includes metal and could affect the scan. This includes belts, earrings, shirts with snaps or zippers, bras, and glasses. If your clothing cannot be worn during the scan, you can wear a hospital gown.

If you need contrast medium for the scan. You may need a contrast medium during the scan. If so, the doctor may ask you to have a blood test that checks your kidney function. You can have the blood test done any time up to a few weeks before the scan.

Personal medical history or concerns. Be ready to talk about these topics with the health care team:

• All medications you are taking.

• Any medical problems you have, such as diabetes.

• Any drug or food allergies you have.

• Any allergic reactions to iodine you may have had in the past.

• Whether you should take your usual medications on the day of the scan.

• If you are breastfeeding or could be pregnant. A CT scan could put the baby at risk.

• Any concerns you have about the test.

Insurance, costs, and consent. If you are concerned about the cost of your CT scan, find out beforehand what your insurance provider will cover. Ask how much of the cost you will have to pay. Once you get to the doctor’s office or hospital, the staff will ask you to sign a consent form. This form states that you understand the benefits and risks of the scan and agree to have it.

What happens during a CT scan?

Depending on which part of your body the scan will focus on, you may receive a contrast medium. If you get it by injection, you may feel heat or itching at the injection site. Or, you may have a metallic taste in your mouth. Both feelings should stop after a few minutes. If you have a more severe reaction, like trouble breathing, tell the technologist right away.

The technologist will help position you on an exam table. The table may have straps, pillows, or a special cradle for your head to hold you in place. You will likely lie on your back, but the technologist may ask you to lie on your side or stomach. This will depend on which part of your body needs to be scanned.

Sometimes a CT scan is used to plan for radiation therapy. In this case, your body position will be very important for the scan. The technologist may use a special device like a mask or a body cast to keep your body still during the scan.

The CT scan machine looks like a large donut. The exam table will slide back and forth through the large hole in the center of the machine. The scanner rotates around you. At first, the table will move through the scanner quickly. This helps the technologist confirm that your body is in the right position. After that, the table will move more slowly.

CT scans are not painful. But you will need to lie still for the entire scan, which may become unpleasant. Since the scanner is shaped like a donut, you will not be enclosed in the scanner at any time. You will hear whirring or clicking sounds from the machine. Some machines are louder than others.

During the scan, the technologist will be in a nearby control room. They will be able to see you through a window or a video camera. And, you will be able to talk with them through an intercom system.

The technologist may ask you to hold your breath during part of the scan. That is because the body’s movement from breathing can blur the pictures. The technologist may also raise, lower, or tilt the exam table to create the correct angle for the x-rays. Ask them to tell you when the table will move.

Your visit will usually last up to 1 hour. The scan itself takes only 10 to 15 minutes or less. Newer scanners, including spiral or helical CT scanners, are even faster. If a larger part of your body is scanned, the test may last longer. The technologist should be able to give you a time estimate before you begin.

When the scan is done, the technologist may ask you to stay on the exam table for a few minutes. During this time, a radiologist will look at the images to see if the technologist needs to take more.

After the CT scan

You can go back to your normal activities, such as driving, right after your CT scan. If you received contrast medium, you should drink a lot of water to flush it out of your body.

Questions to ask your health care team

Before having a CT scan, you may want to ask your health care team these questions:

• What will happen during the CT scan?

• Who will do the CT scan?

• How long will the CT scan take?

• Will there be any discomfort?

• Can I bring my own music to listen to during the CT scan?

• What are the risks and benefits of having a CT scan?

• Do I need to bring any of my other radiologic images with me to the CT scan?

• Does the recommended imaging center usually perform CT scans?

• Will I receive a contrast medium before the scan? If so, how will it be given?

• May I eat or drink before the CT scan? Should I take my usual medications that day?

• Does the center have an emergency response plan in case I have an allergic reaction to the contrast medium?

• Will I need to avoid any activities after the CT scan?

• When will I learn the results of the CT scan?

• How will I get the results of the CT scan?

• Will I need any other tests?

Related Resources

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More Information

National Cancer Institute: Computed Tomography (CT) Scans and Cancer

RadiologyInfo.org: Computed Tomography (CT) – Body

Purpose, Procedure, Risks, Side-Effects, Results

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• How Do CT Scans Work?
• How Are CT Scans Done?
• What Is It Used For?
• What Is a CT Scan with Contrast?
• Are There Any Risks?
• What Are the Side Effects?
• More

A computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan allows doctors to see inside your body. It uses a combination of X-rays and a computer to create pictures of your organs, bones, and other tissues. It shows more detail than a regular X-ray.

You can get a CT scan on any part of your body. The procedure doesn’t take very long, and it’s painless.

They use a narrow X-ray beam that circles around one part of your body. This provides a series of images from many different angles. A computer uses this information to create a cross-sectional picture. Like one piece in a loaf of bread, this two-dimensional (2D) scan shows a “slice” of the inside of your body.

This process is repeated to produce a number of slices. The computer stacks these scans one on top of the other to create a detailed image of your organs, bones, or blood vessels. For example, a surgeon may use this type of scan to look at all sides of a tumor to prepare for an operation.

You’d probably get a scan at a hospital or radiology clinic. Your doctor might tell you not to eat or drink for a few hours before the procedure. You may also need to wear a hospital gown and remove any metal objects, such as jewelry.

A radiology technologist will perform the CT scan. During the test, you’ll lie on a table inside a large, doughnut-shaped CT machine. As the table slowly moves through the scanner, the X-rays rotate around your body. It’s normal to hear a whirring or buzzing noise. Movement can blur the image, so you’ll be asked to stay very still. You may need to hold your breath at times.

How long the scan takes will depend on what parts of your body are being scanned. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to a half-hour. In most cases, you’ll go home the same day.

Doctors order CT scans for a long list of reasons:

• CT scans can detect bone and joint problems, like complex bone fractures and tumors.
• If you have a condition like cancer, heart disease, emphysema, or liver masses, CT scans can spot it or help doctors see any changes.
• They show internal injuries and bleeding, such as those caused by a car accident.
• They can help locate a tumor, blood clot, excess fluid, or infection.
• Doctors use them to guide treatment plans and procedures, such as biopsies, surgeries, and radiation therapy.
• Doctors can compare CT scans to find out if certain treatments are working. For example, scans of a tumor over time can show whether it’s responding to chemotherapy or radiation.

In a CT scan, dense substances like bones are easy to see. But soft tissues don’t show up as well. They may look faint in the image. To help them appear clearly, you may need a special dye called a contrast material. They block the X-rays and appear white on the scan, highlighting blood vessels, organs, or other structures.

Contrast materials are usually made of iodine or barium sulfate. You might receive these drugs in one or more of three ways:

• Injection: The drugs are injected directly into a vein. This is done to help your blood vessels, urinary tract, liver, or gallbladder stand out in the image.
• Orally: Drinking a liquid with the contrast material can enhance scans of your digestive tract, the pathway of food through your body.
• Enema: If your intestines are being scanned, the contrast material can be inserted in your rectum.

After the CT scan, you’ll need to drink plenty of fluids to help your kidneys remove the contrast material from your body.

CT scans use X-rays, which produce ionizing radiation. Research shows that this kind of radiation may damage your DNA and lead to cancer. But the risk is still very small — your chances of developing a fatal cancer because of a CT scan are about 1 in 2,000.

But radiation’s effect adds up over your lifetime. So your risk increases with every CT scan you get. Talk to your doctor about the procedure’s potential dangers and benefits, and ask why the CT scan is necessary.

Ionizing radiation may be more harmful in children. That’s because they’re still growing. They also have more years to get exposed to radiation. Before the procedure, you may want to ask the doctor or technician if the CT machine’s settings have been adjusted for a child.

Tell your physician if you’re pregnant. If you need imaging for your stomach area, your doctor may recommend an exam that doesn’t use radiation, such as an ultrasound.

Some people are allergic to the contrast materials. Most of the time, the reaction is mild. It can lead to itchiness or a rash. In very few cases, the dye may trigger a life-threatening reaction. For this reason, your health care provider may want to monitor you for a short period after your CT scan. Tell your doctor about any allergies you have to medications, seafood, or iodine.

Your doctor should know, too, if you have diabetes and are taking the drug metformin. They’ll let you know if you should stop taking your medication before or after your procedure.

Although it’s rare, contrast materials can lead to kidney problems. Let your doctor know if you have any kidney issues before the CT scan.

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Computed tomography is a modern diagnostic method based on X-ray layer-by-layer scanning. This method allows you to take pictures of various organs and systems of the body in a cross section. The key to the effectiveness and accuracy of the results of computed tomography are high-quality modern equipment and the qualifications of doctors, in the “SM-Clinic” there is both.

The CT scan doctor acts as an expert diagnostician and consultant who helps your doctor confirm or refute a suspected diagnosis. In addition, a CT diagnostician conducts follow-up monitoring of the results of therapy.

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How is a lung CT performed?

During a CT scan of the lungs, the tomograph makes many scans of the chest in a few seconds, the thickness of one step does not exceed 1 mm. Then the images (images) are processed on a computer and combined into a three-dimensional model-reconstruction of the study area. Computed tomography is a modern, improved version of radiography.

CT of the lungs and chest shows pneumonia, tuberculosis, tumors of the mediastinum, damage to soft tissues and blood vessels, injuries to the ribs and thoracic spine.

Due to the fact that a high-resolution three-dimensional image can be studied in three projections, and the thickness of one slice is only a millimeter, according to the scan results, differential diagnosis of neoplasms from 5 mm is possible, which other types of diagnostics will not show.

How is a lung CT performed and what should the patient pay attention to? We understand in this article.

What is multislice computed tomography (MSCT)?

Today in medical institutions you will find three types of tomographs: conventional, spiral and multispiral. What is the difference between conventional and helical CT scanner? The key difference is in the table movement mechanics, scanning speed and tomogram quality.

During a conventional scan, the scanner ring makes one full rotation, then the table moves one step to take the next “slice”. Scanning one zone takes about 30 minutes.

SCT machines are more modern. The frame of the spiral tomograph rotates continuously, and the table moves gradually, due to this, the sensor moves along the spiral path. Thus, the examination time is reduced to 1-5 minutes, CT scans are more clear and of high quality. An improved method of SCT is MSCT. What is “multispiral computed tomography”?

Diagnosis is carried out on a new generation of high-speed spiral tomographs equipped with two X-ray tubes. Compared to traditional scanners, the number of sensitive sensors is increased here, and the examination time is reduced to several seconds – the time of one breath (with CT of the lungs without contrast). Scans of multispiral tomographs are characterized by the highest resolution.

Minimal tumors, metastases, foci of lung lesions can be detected with the help of multislice computed tomography (MSCT). Multispiral scanning is allowed to be performed on patients who are in a serious state of health. MSCT can be performed simultaneously with artificial lung ventilation in the intensive care unit.

In the specialized CT center “Ami” computed tomography is performed on a new generation multislice device Siemens Somatom go.now with reduced radiation exposure.

Lung CT with contrast

In some cases, the patient is indicated to have a CT scan of the lungs with contrast. Contrast is a special iodine-containing drug that is administered intravenously to the patient before diagnosis. CT of the lungs with contrast allows visualization of vessels and differentiation of neoplasms.

The contrast preparation passes through the circulatory system, “staining” the vessels and organs from the inside. The iodine molecules included in the contrast allow the drug to more actively absorb X-rays and make soft tissues brighter on tomograms. CT of the chest with contrast is done to assess the condition of the pulmonary vessels, blood circulation, and also to increase the information content of the examination when necessary, for example, when diagnosing a neoplasm.

A contrast test is usually ordered by a doctor. Sometimes such a need arises after the first scan without contrast, if the patient has signs of suspicious pathological processes that need to be excluded or investigated in more detail. A single rescan is absolutely safe for the patient. It is also possible to initially distinguish a benign neoplasm from an oncogenic process within the framework of a CT scan of the lungs with contrast.

For quick, precise and painless injection of the drug, we use the device injector. The examination with contrast takes about 15-20 minutes.

The drug for contrast enhancement of CT scans does not harm the body and is excreted from the body within a day after CT scan of the lungs. To assess the state of the organs of the chest and lungs, for example, to clarify the degree of their damage in pneumonia, to detect tuberculosis, bronchitis, etc., native computed tomography without contrast is sufficient.

How is a lung CT performed?

Before the examination, the patient must remove metal objects and jewelry located at the level of the chest, as they can degrade the quality of the scans. It is better for the patient to wear comfortable, non-restricting clothing.

Next, the patient lies on his back on the tomography table, which gradually moves inside a dynamically rotating ring (gantry). The ray tube delivers a stream of ionizing particles, and sensitive sensors record the response of tissues and internal organs. Only the chest area is scanned, so the x-ray dose is low and safe. The gantry, the frame of the tomograph, is wide and open enough so that the patient does not feel like an enclosed space. Therefore, claustrophobic patients do not experience panic attacks during CT (lung MRI can be difficult for this reason). CT of the lungs passes without pain and discomfort.

During a lung CT scan, the patient should lie still and hold their breath for 5-10 seconds. If this is not done, artifacts may appear on the scans that reduce the quality of the scans. Throughout the examination, feedback is maintained with the radiologist.

After lung CT

Immediately after the examination in our center, the patient receives a recording of the examination (lung scans) on a DVD in high resolution and a commentary from the radiologist. Rehabilitation is not required – immediately after a CT scan of the lungs, you can return to your usual activities. If a CT scan of the lungs with contrast (angiography) was performed, then after the diagnosis, you should drink more pure water than usual so that the iodine-containing drug is more quickly excreted from the body.

The doctor will carefully examine the scans of the lungs in three projections. CT will show focal changes in the lungs with pneumonia, tuberculosis, as well as neoplasms, damaged vessels and other abnormalities, if any. Then the doctor will write a conclusion and send it to the patient by e-mail.

Lung CT preparation

Examination without contrast does not require special preparation – CT of the lungs can be done immediately upon prior appointment for the study.

When preparing for a chest CT scan with contrast, follow the following algorithm:

• Do a blood test for creatinine no more than 10 days before the CT scan. Since the iodine-containing drug will be excreted by the kidneys, it is necessary to check whether their work is impaired.
• The last meal should be taken 3 hours before the examination.
• If you are taking antidiabetic drugs, you should stop taking them for 1-2 days before CT. However, this should be done only by prior agreement with the endocrinologist.

Screening low-dose lung CT

Such a study is specifically aimed at annual preventive health monitoring – diagnosis of lung cancer. According to WHO, about 10 million people die of lung cancer every year in the world, and this figure is growing rapidly. CT significantly reduces mortality from lung cancer, so patients over 40 years of age are recommended to have annual screening. The risk group includes patients whose families have cases of oncology. In addition, smoking, work in hazardous industries and chronic lung diseases can also be a trigger for the development of malignant processes. In 20% of cases, lung cancer is caused by HBV, HCV and HPV infections. Screening low-dose CT of the lungs will show destructive malignant changes in the lungs in the early stages, when cancer is still amenable to successful and relatively easy treatment.

Benefits of lung CT

• Diagnosis is quick and painless. In certain cases, CT acts as an alternative to instrumental-invasive methods for examining the respiratory tract – bronchoscopy or endoscopy of the lungs.
• CT scans are highly informative compared to x-ray or fluorography. CT of the lungs better than MRI shows pneumonia, tuberculosis, tumors of the mediastinum. With the help of computed tomography, the organs of the respiratory tract, bones and blood vessels can be examined in different planes, and even initially determine the type of neoplasm detected (from 5 mm).
• Diagnosis is not contraindicated in patients with implants in the mediastinum, does not cause panic fear in claustrophobia.
• CT of the lungs without contrast does not require special preparation – the examination can be done immediately on the day of treatment.
• CT is suitable for annual lung cancer preventive screening, as well as for monitoring airway recovery after pneumonia, tuberculosis, and other diseases.
• You do not have to do X-rays and fluorography – CT of the lungs will show everything that is needed. The study is recorded in high resolution on a DVD disc, which meets the requirements of the attending physicians and preparation for precision surgical operations.

Text prepared by

Maksim Anatolievich Kotov, Chief Physician of the Ami CT Center, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor. Experience 21 years

1. Kotov M.A. Experience in the use of computed tomography in the diagnosis of respiratory diseases in children / Proceedings of the X Nevsky Radiological Forum (NRF-2018). – St. Petersburg, 2018, Radiation diagnostics and therapy.
   

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