Lung CT Scans

Q: What can I expect after the lung CT scan?

After your lung CT scan, you will receive a comprehensive radiology report. This report is prepared by a Board-certified Radiologist and will take up to 7-10 business days that will be mailed to your home. Should you require further information about your results, Preventative Diagnostic’s Medical Director will be available for consultation.

Lung Scans

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States.¹

Detecting abnormalities in the lungs can improve the life span of you or a loved one. Over 220,000 people will be newly diagnosed with lung cancer and over 140,000 people will die from lung cancer in the United States in 2019.¹ Our technologically advanced SOMATOM go.All CT Scanner can detect early stages of small tumors so early treatment may begin. Early detection, by low-dose CT screening, can dramatically increase the long-term survival rate.¹

¹ Source: seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html

Why should you get a lung scan

Each year in the United States over 220,000 people are told that they have lung cancer…

Lung Cancer is the leading form of terminal cancer. Nearly 55% of the new lung cancer diagnosis will be in the 55-74 age group while this same age group accounts for 52% of the annual lung cancer deaths in the United States. Due to its minimal symptoms, lung cancer is often not detected until it reaches stages 3 or 4 when a tumor is the size of an orange. With the low dose scan by the SOMATOM go.All CT scanner, tumors can be detected at the size of a grain of rice.¹

Are you a current or past smoker?

In 2013, the US Preventative Services Task Force recommended “annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography in adults ages 55 to 80 years who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years”.²

Take this short quiz at The American Lung Association to see if a lung CT scan is recommended for you.

A 2011 study by the National Lung Screening Trial Research Team concluded that having a low-dose CT scan to detect lung cancer shows a 20% reduction in mortality from lung cancer as compared to utilizing a traditional single view chest x-ray. The Research Team’s conclusion is that screening with a low dose CT reduces mortality from lung cancer.³

² Source: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationsStatementFinal/lung-cancer-screening

³ Source: N Engl J Med. 2011 Aug 4;365(5):395-409.doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1102873. Epub 2011 Jun 29

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Frequently Asked Questions

How safe is a Low Dose CT Scan with the Somatom go. ALL?

The radiation exposure of a Low Dose CT Scan with the SOMATOM go.All is extremely low. Typical, less accurate CT or CAT scans, will expose you to up to 20 times more radiation. With our Low Dose SOMATOM go.All CT Scanner, there are no shots, no dyes to drink, no fasting, and no medication to take. The SOMATOM go.All in is an open structure greatly reducing or removing the claustrophobic fears all together.

How long is the process from start to finish?

Our scans are comfortable, noninvasive and fast. The total exam takes only 10 to 15 minutes to perform with approximately 10 seconds of actual scan time. After your scan is complete, you will receive a comprehensive radiology report. This report is prepared by a Board-certified Radiologist.

Is the scan painful?

No, it is not painful. It takes less than a breath hold to complete the scan. It takes you longer to get on and off the table, and you simply hold your breath while the machine scans you. So there’s no pain and no injection that’s involved in the procedure.

What can I expect during the scan?

You should wear loose fitting clothes and women are encouraged to wear a sports bra or a bra with no underwire. For better imaging, it is recommended that you refrain from caffeine for 4 hours prior to your scan. We will have you remove all contents of your pockets and your belt. You will lie down on a patient table in your street clothes. Our CT Technician will place 4 EKG electrodes on your chest. The scan will be programmed based on your specific body characteristics. The CT system is shaped like a large doughnut and the center of it is called the gantry. The patient table will move slowly through the gantry. Once the table and you are in the correct position, your CT Technician may ask you to hold your breath or not to move. You’ll hear the CT system, which makes a low whirring sound. The entire scan takes approximately 10 seconds.

Do I need a doctor's order?

Each state has different laws regarding CT scans. In some states it is mandatory for a doctor to issue a prescription. However, in Nevada, no prescription is required to get a CT scan. Preventative Diagnostic Center provides the accessibility and access you deserve. People are ready to take control of their health care and are done with the days of waiting for symptoms.

Who should consider a Low Dose CT Scan?

What factors put someone at risk for heart or lung disease? Just as everyone in their 40’s and 50’s should begin undergoing regular colon exams and mammograms, people over the age of 40 with specific cardiac risk factors should consider having a Low Dose CT Heart and Lung Scan performed on a regular schedule. If you are between the ages of 40 and 72, with any of the following, you are considered an optimal candidate for the Low Dose Heart and Lung Scan.

Age
Tobacco Usage
High Blood pressure
High Cholesterol or Tryglyceride Levels
Obesity
Diabetes
Family History of Heart Attack
Lack of Physical Activity
High Stress

What can I expect after the lung CT scan?

After your lung CT Scan, you will receive a comprehensive radiology report. This report is prepared by a Board-certified Radiologist and will take up to 7-10 business days that will be mailed to your home. Should you require further information about your results, Preventative Diagnostic’s Medical Director will be available for consultation.

What can a lung CT scan detect?

A lung CT scan uses special x-ray technology to detect abnormalities and growths in the chest. Even small lung tumors in the earliest stages of growth may be accurately captured in high-quality CT scan images. This painless, non-invasive diagnostic approach can lead to early detection of tumors and better treatment options for lung cancer patients.

Is a CT scan the same as a CAT scan?

Yes, a CT scan and a CAT scan are two terms for the same diagnostic imaging procedure using computed tomography (CT). This process captures multiple x-ray images of the body and combines them to create high-quality 3D images that doctors use to diagnose patients. Most medical professionals today refer to this as a CT scan, but it was also called a CAT (computed axial tomography) scan in the earlier years of this technology.