CT Lung Screening: Frequently Asked Questions

People at high risk for developing lung cancer, i.e.- those 50 to 80 years of age with at least 10 pack-year histories. You have a 10 pack-year history if you have smoked one pack a day for ten years, two packs a day for 5 years, etc.

Low-Dose Screening CT is designed to supplement or replace routine Chest X-rays. It is specifically designed to screen for pulmonary nodules, and is neither designed nor intended to screen for abnormalities elsewhere in the thorax (i.e.- heart, aorta, lymph nodes, bones). The test is specifically designed to rapidly screen the lungs using the least amount of radiation exposure, to allow detection of pulmonary nodules. No intravenous or oral contrast is used. Unlike a Diagnostic CT it has been developed for asymptomatic patients and therefore most insurance companies do not reimburse for its cost.

In order to keep the radiation exposure to the minimum and provide complete lung coverage in a single breath hold, this procedure should only be carried out on a “Helical” CT scanner.

First you will complete a specific lung-screening questionnaire. You will be asked to undress from the waist up and be given a gown to wear. A registered CT technologist will explain the procedure and you will be asked to lie down on the CT table. You will be asked to hold your breath while the table gently moves and simultaneously the images are taken. This part of the procedure takes about 60 seconds. The examination is completely painless and non-invasive. Your results will be sent to your referring physician within 24-48 hours of the exam being completed.

Once you have been positioned on the table the actual scan time is under a minute. However allowing time for you to complete the questionnaire, get undressed before the procedure and dressed again after the procedure and answer any questions you might have, you should allow 15 minutes for the entire exam.

Since it is critical to minimize radiation and to provide complete lung coverage in a breathhold, this test should only be performed on a helical (spiral) CT scanner with current software and hardware upgrades.

First, you complete a brief risk factor questionnaire. Next, you lie down on the imaging table and a CT technologist will ask you to hold your breath while the images are taken. That's it. In twenty seconds, your exam is complete, and you may return to your regular routine. The procedure is pain free, non-invasive, and inexpensive. Your examination will be read by a board certified radiologist, and results will be sent to you and your doctor within 48 hours.