Low Dose CT Screening (Helical CT)

New technology and clinical trials with helical (spiral) CT scanners show they can detect small lung cancers treatable with surgery alone. A CT scan is four times more sensitive than a standard chest x-ray. This gives physicians the ability to screen at-risk patients.

Although no long-term studies exist to determine who should have this exam, many physicians believe that screening is advisable for patients who are:

• Older than 40 years and have smoked cigarettes for over 10 pack-years. (Ten pack-years equals one pack of cigarettes per day for 10 years, two packs of cigarettes per day for five years or three packs of cigarettes per day for three years.)
• Younger than 40 years and have smoked over 30 pack-years.
• Have a family history of lung cancer.

Stopping smoking eventually decreases your risk of lung cancer but this takes many years. If you have stopped smoking, you should still determine your number of pack-years and refer to the guidelines above.

Patient Experience

The CT scanner is much more open than most MRI scanners. Patients with claustrophobia are usually comfortable during CT scans.

A technologist will ask you to lie on the scanner bed. You will be asked to lie still and hold your breath during two to three sets of scans. Total time for the test will be less than 30 minutes.

Patient Preparation

All patients should arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time unless otherwise noted, so that proper evaluation, screening and registration can be completed prior to the scan.

You must have with you:

• Previous x-rays if requested by your doctor’s office
• Your appointment form and referral

·         Complete insurance information including your insurance card

Do not eat or drink anything three to four hours before the exam.

Continue to take any medication prescribed by your doctor unless you have been given other instructions.

The test does not require dye and creates no side effects.

Make yourself comfortable during the exam. You will be able to see and hear a technologist throughout the exam.

Post-Exam

A board certified radiologist from Surburban Radiologic Consultants will read the scan. Radiologists who read the scans are specialists in interpreting chest CT scans. The results will be sent to you and your primary physician within a week.

If an abnormality is found, you and your doctor will be notified. You may be scheduled for a follow-up test to obtain high-resolution images of an abnormality. The CT scan can only detect cancer. A final diagnosis requires a needle biopsy or surgical removal of a tumor. Your doctor will discuss a treatment plan with you.