Radiologists utilize Computed Tomography (CT) scanning to look for signs of lung disease without cutting into the chest. Low dose CT scanning is a preventative measure that can catch pathology including lung cancer in the early stages. Doctors use this method to develop the right medical treatments for their patients. CT scanning has several uses and benefits for doctors who need to treat lung disorders.
Lung Disorders
Doctors use medical imaging to diagnose, analyze, and treat a variety of lung disorders. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is common among smokers and people exposed to air pollution. Doctors look at images to find signs of this disease, such as pulmonary hypertension. They diagnose bronchitis by looking for layers of thickening on the bronchial walls that may indicate inflammation.
Tumors that cause lung cancer will show up on CT scans. Tumors are more visible on a CT scan than a normal chest X-ray. Being accurate the first time is necessary to find the early signs of a disease. Doctors who are unsure will recommend more testing over a period of weeks. A person is more likely to survive from cancer when an early diagnosis is made.
Computed tomography angiography shows visuals of the arteries and blood vessels that travel to and from the lungs and through the entire body. Doctors review CT pulmonary angiograms to diagnose pulmonary embolism. They look for signs of blocked arteries in the lungs.
The Uses of CT Scanning
Doctors review three-dimensional images of the body’s internal organs and use the information to diagnose diseases and develop treatments. Compared to X-rays that are two dimensional, doctors can analyze CT scans at different angles and dissect the scanned object into sections. This cross-sectional imaging gives them more detailed, noninvasive views of the organs.
Medical imaging is used to look for abnormalities in different parts of the lungs. In contrast, scans from X-rays do not reveal all abnormalities of internal organs. There are different techniques that doctors use to create CT scans, such as high resolution scanning or angiography.
There are some concerns about the safety of CT scanning. Both X-ray and CT scanning machines emit various doses of radiation that are known to damage DNA and produce cancerous cells. To combat these problems, the procedure for CT low dose lung screening was developed to produce low doses of radiation. The screening also remains pain free and noninvasive.
The Radiology Clinic
Identifying the basic symptoms of lung disease, such as coughing or trouble breathing, is not accurate enough. Doctors need a more accurate method of detecting problems with the lungs. CT scanning of the lungs allows them to make diagnoses, develop treatments, and perform tests that are helpful in eradicating the disease. At The Radiology Clinic in Rockville, Maryland, our board certified fellowship trained radiologists will make accurate and prompt diagnoses to help detectand treat illnesses that can affect the lungs, including lung cancer. Our state-of-the-art equipment allows quicker and sharper images to help detect even the most subtle lung abnormalities. The Radiology Clinic does perform low dose lung screening CTs as well as all other CTs of the chest, including CT angiography and high resolution interstitial lung disease protocol CTs. Please contact us today to schedule your CT scan.
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