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Chest CT Scan

Computed tomography or CT scan is an imaging test that produces a multidimensional view of the internal organs, including blood vessels, soft tissue, and bones. The CT scan images are very detailed. Chest CT scan is painless, noninvasive, and helpful in detecting tiny lumps in the chest or precancerous tumors at the curable stage.

Common Use of Chest CT Scan

• Diagnose lung diseases.
• Help diagnose the unexplained causes of chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, fever, or other chest-related symptoms.
• Help examine chest injuries affecting the heart, blood vessels, spine, lungs, or ribs.
• Detect and delineate abnormalities or tumors in the chest found on X-rays to see if they spread to other organs.
• Follow-up imaging if tumors are responding to the treatment.
• Plan radiotherapy.

Chest CT scan Procedure

Before the procedure

Please inform your doctor in advance if:

• You are pregnant.
• You have an allergy or preexisting medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart, kidney, or thyroid diseases. These health problems can increase the risk of adverse drug reactions.
• You are allergic to contrast media. Your doctor may prescribe medications before the CT scan.
• Your doctor may inform you to refrain from eating or drinking for 2-4 hours. You should not wear any metal objects such as hairpins, dentures, eyeglasses, hearing aids, jewelry, or bra with underwire because they can affect the quality of the images.

During the procedure                                                     

This process takes around 30 minutes. A multidetector CT helps decreases the image acquisition time. Though alone in the scanner, you can communicate with the technologist via an intercom. If a child has to undergo this diagnostic exam, a parent may be allowed to accompany the child but must wear a lead shield.

• You will lie in the supine position on the CT exam table.
• A contrast media, if necessary, will be given intravenously right before the scanning. You may feel the warmth along the injected vein, a metallic taste, or the urge to urinate. These are side effects of the contrast injection.
• The CT exam table quickly moves through the scanner to the correct starting position; you may see lines projected on your body. The table then moves slowly for the scanner to take images. You may hear clicking sounds generated by the revolving internal part of the CT scanner around you..
• You will be asked to hold your breath and remain still during the scanning. You must be still during the scan because any motion will blur the images.
• Children or those who feel uncomfortable, anxious, or nervous from lying still in a tight space may require sedatives.
• Lastly, the images will be checked if they are of high quality for accurate interpretation.

After the procedure

• The result will be interpreted and analyzed by a radiologist.
• Your doctor will explain the result to you and plan appropriate treatment.
• A follow-up exam may be ordered to determine if the treatment is successful.

Benefits of Chest CT scan

• Fast, painless, noninvasive, and accurate.
• Detailed images of blood vessels, soft tissue, and bone.
• Real-time imaging test useful for internal bleeding and injuries in case of emergency.
• Shorter time lying still than MRI.
• Minimize the need for surgical biopsy.
• Patients with an implanted medical device such as a pacemaker can have a CT scan, unlike MRI.
• No radiation remains in the body.
• Low-dose chest CT scan is available.

Risks of Chest CT Scan

• Risk to the fetus if you are pregnant.
• Side effects from contrast media. But this is rare.
• Minimal risk of stimulating cancer cells due to radiation exposure, which is avoidable with low-dose CT scan.

Low-dose Chest CT scan

• A low-dose chest CT scan uses a lower level of radiation, which can be 65% less than a conventional CT scan. The proper radiation dose depends on your body size, medical condition, and the information the doctor desires. Generally, it is applicable for pediatric patients or those with lung diseases to diagnose cancer at an early stage.

Article by
Dr Warakarn Vilaichone

A doctor specializing in pulmonary medicine
Doctor profile