Chest CT scan
A chest CT scan is a detailed chest X-ray.
What is a chest CT?
Why do I need a chest CT scan?
What are the risks of having a chest CT scan?
How do I prepare for a chest CT scan?
What happens during a chest CT scan?
What happens after a chest CT scan?
What is a chest CT?
A chest CT (computed tomography) scan uses special X-ray equipment to take detailed images of the lungs, heart, blood vessels, airways, ribs and lymph nodes.
Chest CT scans can help you doctor to determine the causes of chest symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath and chest pain. Chest CT scans can help diagnose early-stage lung cancer, and other lung diseases.
Why do I need a chest CT scan?
Your doctor might suggest a chest CT scan to:
- Check if tumours are responding to treatment
- Check for blood clots
- Check for excess fluid around the lungs
- Check for lung conditions – such as tuberculosis, emphysema and pneumonia
- Evaluate chest injuries
- Examine tumours in the chest
- Find the cause of unexplained symptoms – including chest pain, excessive cough and trouble breathing
- Help diagnose abnormalities found in other tests
- Help decide if other tests are needed to make a diagnosis
- Help plan future treatments – such as radiation therapy.
What are the risks of having a chest CT scan?
Generally, chest CT scans are painless and relatively safe. While the test uses radiation, the amount of radiation used is low and exposure is kept to a minimum.
Some people should avoid chest CT scans, including pregnant women. If you are pregnant, or suspect you may be pregnant, tell your doctor.
How do I prepare for a chest CT scan?
You don’t need to do anything to prepare for a chest CT scan, and you can eat and drink as usual before the test. Before the scan begins, you will need to remove all jewellery as this can interfere with the images. You will need to wear a hospital gown during the scan.
What happens during a chest CT scan?
A chest CT scan is performed in the radiology department scanning room by a radiographer. During the scan:
- You will lie flat on your back on a CT table
- A pillow will be placed under your head
- The CT table will slide under the scanner
- The scanner will move over and around your chest, between your neck and your abdomen
- The radiographer will ask you to breathe in, breath out, or hold your breath to get good quality images of the structures in your chest
- The scan usually takes less than 30 minutes.
What happens after a chest CT scan?
After the chest CT scan, you should be able to eat and drink as usual and resume your normal activities. Your CT images will be reviewed by a radiologist, a doctor who is specially trained in reading and interpreting X-ray images. The radiologist will send a report to your doctor who will discuss the results with you and plan your next steps.