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Tests and Procedure Descriptions Date Updated: 09/09/2009



Department
Nuclear Medicine
Procedure/Test Name
VQ Lung Scan
Procedure Overview/Details
This scan assesses the air supply and blood supply to your lungs and looks for differences between them. This test may have been ordered by your doctor to investigate several different possible disease processes:
  • Rule out blood clots to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
  • Evaluate air supply changes in lung disorders (e.g. COPD, lung cancer, and obstructive conditions).
  • Evaluate blood supply changes in lung disorders (e.g. emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and inflammation conditions).
  • Staging for lung cancer.
  • Evaluate blood shunting from the right to the left side of the heart.
  • Preoperative lung assessment.
    The test involves you breathing in radioactive aerosol through a mask that lets us see the air supply to your lungs. After breathing this aerosol, pictures will be taken from different angles around your lungs. Following these pictures, you will be given an injection of a radioactive tracer that allows us to see the blood supply to your lungs. Again, pictures will be taken from different angles around your lungs.

    Preparation

    • Bring a recent Chest X-ray.
    • Bring a list of all medications and supplements you take. This includes vitamins, herbal remedies, and holistic medications.
    • Any of these procedures is subject to change according to the nuclear medicine physician. The duration of the tests is a rough estimate. Please be aware that the time may be lengthened if a scan has to be repeated, if emergency cases are brought to the department or due to unforeseen circumstances.

      About the Procedure

      • The procedure takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
      • A technologist will briefly explain the test to you and try to answer any questions you may have about the procedure.
      • A technologist will ask you a few questions about your medical history and medications.

      • Air Supply (Ventillation) Scan
      • A mask will be placed over your face and you will inhale a mixture of oxygen and radioactive mist for about 10 minutes.
      • The technologist will ask you to lie down on the bed and the camera will be positioned above your chest.
      • Pictures will be taken from different angles around your lungs.

      • Blood Supply (Perfusion) Scan
      • You will receive an injection of another radioactive tracer into a vein.
      • Pictures are taken as the tracer is injected to determine the blood flow to the lungs.
      • Again, pictures will be taken from different angles around your lungs.

      • Procedure Modifications
        Some patient conditions dictate modification of this test to better ensure the safety of the procedure. The main patient conditions that indicate procedure modification include:
        • Severe high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).
        • Right to left blood leak in the heart (right to left cardiac shunt).
        • Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Sometimes your doctor deems it necessary to have the test even when you are pregnant. The nuclear medicine doctor will discuss with you the risks to your baby and the benefits of having the test.
Preparation
There is no preparation for this procedure.
After Procedure Instructions
There are no specials instructions to follow your procedure.
Directions for Departments
Directions from PARKING RAMP (Preferred Entrance):
Enter the six story parking ramp on College Avenue. No matter where you park, take the elevator to the third floor. Once on the third floor, you can enter the Robert C. Neldberg building using the large set of automatic doors. Once in the building, continue walking down the hallway until you reach the enclosed skywalk that will take you across the street. Cross College Avenue by this skywalk and turn left at the first hallway. Take the elevators “R,S,T” to the first floor. Proceed straight to the first hallway and turn left. Radiology office window is on your right.


Directions from PARKING LOT A:
Park in Parking Lot A (the parking lot which is to the east of the Robert C. Neldberg building, 580 W. College Avenue). Directly across the street is the “East Entrance”, this is labeled by a brown and white sign. Enter through the East Entrance and go to the main doors directly in front of you. Once in the hallway, take a right. Go all the way to the end of this hallway, and then take a left. Continue down this hallway until you reach the elevators labeled G&H on your right hand side. Take these elevators up one floor to the first floor. Radiology is on your left. Check in at the Radiology office window.