Understanding the Lung Scan Procedure: What to Expect During Your Exam

It's 2025, but lung cancer is still one of the leading causes of death all across the world. The number keeps on increasing amid the rise of air pollution. However, as per experts and studies, early detection of the disease helps fight it through effective treatment. In addition, according to studies, early detection increases the life expectancy rate by 50%. In that regard, a lung scan plays an integral role as it helps in early detection. Keeping that in consideration, in this post, we will explore the role of lung scans in the prevention of deadly diseases.    

Understand the Basics of Lung Cancer 

Lung cancer remains to be one of the most deadly chronic diseases. It spreads in the body due to abnormal growth of cells within the lungs that take the form of tumors. These tumors can be both benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not deadly. On the other hand, malignant tumors spread quickly in the body. In addition to this, the different types of lung cancer include the following: 

• Small cell lung cancer is one of the most common types of lung cancer, and one of the main reasons behind the cancer is cigarette smoking. This cancer spreads quickly in the body. 

• Non-small cell lung cancer is another type of cancer that does not spread quickly in the body. It constitutes about 80% of lung cancer cases. It has a few other types, including adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. 

What is a Lung Scan?

A lung scan refers to a proactive measure that helps in the early detection of diseases and cancer. A scan offers insight into the lungs and allows us to see the abnormality within the lungs, such as tumors or blockage of blood vessels. This imaging test uses the radioactive tracer to capture detailed images of the lungs from different angles. The scan primarily diagnoses conditions like blood clots by assessing the movement of the blood through lung tissues. Other types of lung scans help detect various kinds of abnormalities within the lungs. Thus, it allows doctors to go for an effective treatment. 

What are the Types of Lung Scans?

Depending upon the type of abnormality, there are different types of lung scans. Some of the most common types include the following: 

• A ventilation scan is a type of scan that relies on the radioactive gas or the mist to show the movement of the air within the lungs. This helps detect the presence of blood clots within the lungs that may cause trouble with the movement of air. 

• The perfusion scan is another type that involves injecting a radioactive tracer into the vein to show the movement of blood within the lungs.

• Another famous type is the PET-CT scan. This scan is a combination of computerized tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET). This scan highlights the presence of active cancer cells within the lungs. 

• Thoracoscopy is a type of scan that helps to detect whether the cancer is spreading to other parts of the body or not. 

What is the Lung Scan Procedure?

The lung scan procedure is simple, but here are a few things that must be kept in mind.

• First of all, you will have to remove any kind of jewelry or clothing that may cause interference. In many conditions, the centers offer a gown.

• The doctor may advise you to stop eating or drinking a few hours before the scan. 

• In the ventilation scan, you will breathe in the radioactive mist through a mask or tube. You will have to hold your breath for a few minutes. 

• In the perfusion scan, you will receive an intravenous injection of the radioactive tracer to detect the movement of blood. 

• The radiologist will ask you to change the position to take images from different angles.

The perfusion and ventilation scans are done together and take fifteen to thirty minutes combined. If the results of the scans do not match, there is a chance of a clot within your lungs.
Select the Right Lab for the Lung Scan

One of the most important things in the lung scan is the selection of the lab. One of the ways to do this is to search for lung cancer screening near me to find reliable options. However, the lab must have access to the latest technology and equipment to offer an accurate view of the lungs. Another important thing to consider is the professionalism and experience of the radiologists and staff who will guide you through the process. ViaScan of Las Colinas is one authentic option that offers all kinds of scans for the lungs, heart, and full body. You may visit the website to get detailed information or schedule an appointment for the consultation.