Test Overview

A lung scan is a type of nuclear scanning test. It is most often used to find a pulmonary embolism. This is a blood clot that prevents normal blood flow in the lung.

Two types of lung scans are usually done together. They are:

Ventilation scan.

You inhale a radioactive tracer gas or mist. Pictures from this scan can show areas of the lungs that aren't getting enough air or that hold too much air.

Perfusion scan.

A radioactive tracer is injected into a vein in your arm. It travels through your blood and into the lungs. Pictures from this scan can show areas of the lungs that aren't getting enough blood.

If the lungs are working as they should, the results of the two scans will match. If the scan results don't match, you may have a blood clot in the lung.

Ventilation and perfusion scans can be done on their own or together. If both scans are done, the test is called a V/Q scan. The ventilation scan usually is done first.

Why It Is Done

A lung scan is done to:

• Find a blood clot that is preventing normal blood flow to part of a lung.
• Look at the flow of blood or air through the lungs.
• See which parts of the lungs are working and which are damaged. This is often done before surgery to remove parts of the lung.

How To Prepare

If you are breastfeeding, you may want to pump enough breast milk before the test to get through 1 to 2 days of feeding. The radioactive tracer used in this test can get into your breast milk and is not good for the baby.

How It Is Done

You will need to take off any jewelry that might interfere with the scan. You may need to take off all or most of your clothes, depending on which area is being examined. You will be given a cloth or paper covering to use during the test.

During the scan, you might lie on your back with the scanning camera over or under your chest. Or you might sit with the camera next to your chest. The camera does not produce any radiation.

Ventilation scan

For the ventilation scan, a mask will be placed over your mouth and nose. Or you may have a nose clip on your nose and a tube in your mouth that you use for breathing. You will take a deep breath and hold it.

The camera will take pictures as the tracer moves through your lungs.

You may be asked to breathe the gas in and out through your mouth for several minutes. You may then be asked to hold your breath for short periods (about 10 seconds) and to change positions. This is done so your lungs can be viewed from other angles. The camera may move to take pictures from different angles. You need to stay very still during the scans to avoid blurring the pictures.

Afterward, the radioactive gas or mist will clear from your lungs as you breathe.

Perfusion scan

For the perfusion scan, a small amount of the radioactive tracer is injected into your arm.

After the tracer is injected, the camera will take pictures as the tracer moves through your lungs. The camera may be repositioned around your chest to get different views. You need to stay very still during the scans to avoid blurring the pictures.

How long the test takes

The two scans are usually done together and will take about an hour. The ventilation scan takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and the perfusion scan takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The scans can be done on their own.

How It Feels

Breathing through the mask during the ventilation scan may be uncomfortable, especially if you feel very short of breath. But you will be given plenty of oxygen through the mask.

If you have a perfusion scan, you may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a brief sting or pinch. Otherwise, a lung scan is usually painless.

You may find it hard to stay still. Ask for a pillow or blanket to make yourself as comfortable as possible before the scan begins.

Risks

• Allergic reactions to the radioactive tracer are very rare.
• Anytime you're exposed to radiation, there's a small chance of damage to cells or tissue. That's the case even with the low-level radioactive tracer used for this test. But the chance of damage is very low compared with the benefits of the test.

Steps you can take

• Most of the tracer will leave your body through your urine or stool within a day. So be sure to flush the toilet right after you use it, and wash your hands well with soap and water. The amount of radiation in the tracer is very small. This means it isn't a risk for people to be around you after the test.
• After the test, drink lots of fluids for the next 24 hours to help flush the tracer out of your body.
• Radioactive tracer used in this test can get into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed your baby for 1 or 2 days after this test. During this time, you can give your baby breast milk you stored before the test, or you can give formula. Discard the breast milk you pump in the 1 or 2 days after the test.
• Some people have soreness or swelling at the injection site. A moist, warm compress applied to the arm may help.

Results

The results of a lung scan are usually ready in 1 day.

Lung scan results can help your doctor find out how likely it is that you have a blood clot in your lung (pulmonary embolism). The results are most often reported in one the following ways:

• Normal. The results do not show any problem with your lungs.
• Low probability. The results show that the likelihood of a blood clot is low. Your doctor may feel that you need more tests.
• Indeterminate or intermediate probability. The lung scan results show it is possible that you have a blood clot. More tests may be needed.
• High probability. The results show a high likelihood of a blood clot. Your doctor will give you medicine to treat the clot.