Where is a VQ scan done?

Where is a VQ Scan done? Most large public and private hospitals and private radiology or nuclear medicine practices have nuclear medicine facilities where VQ scans are carried out.

How is VQ scan performed?

Your doctor will inject a low-risk radioactive dye into your arm. The dye will travel through your blood and into your lungs. The table will move under a scanner, and you must lie very still. The scanner will take images of the blood flow in your lungs.

Do you need an IV for VQ scan?

A health care provider will inject the radioactive tracer into your vein through an intravenous (IV) line. The tracer will collect in the blood vessels of your lungs. Your provider will use the scanner to take pictures of your lungs.

How long does a lung perfusion scan take?

How long does the test take? The two scans are usually done together and will take about an hour. The ventilation scan takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and the perfusion scan takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

What is a lung perfusion test?

A perfusion scan looks at how blood is flowing within your lungs. In a perfusion scan, the radioactive tracer is absorbed evenly where blood flow is normal. Areas that are not getting blood do not absorb the tracer. In a ventilation scan, the tracer will fill the lungs unless you have an area where the air cannot move.

What is the difference between a CT scan and a VQ scan?

CT is faster and produces sharper images, which many believe make the results easier to interpret. Also, at most hospitals, a CT scanner is available 24/7, while nuclear medicine technicians needed to perform a V/Q study may not be on call, especially on nights and weekends.

Does VQ scan use contrast?

The most common clinical indication for V/Q lung scan is to assess the likelihood of pulmonary embolism (PE) when contrast or radiation exposure is contraindicated.

Can you eat before a VQ scan?

Generally, there is no special dietary preparation, such as fasting, before the scan. You may also be asked to have an X-ray of your chest done 24 to 48 hours before your test.

Where is ventilation highest in the lung?

base
Ventilation is 50% greater at the base of the lung than at the apex. The weight of fluid in the pleural cavity increases the intrapleural pressure at the base to a less negative value.