Who Needs a Chest CT Scan?
People who have symptoms of lung problems, such as
chest pain or trouble breathing, may need chest CT scans. The scan helps find
the cause of the symptoms.
Chest CT scans look for problems such as tumors,
excess fluid around the lungs, and
pulmonary
embolism (a blood clot in the lungs). The scan also checks for other
conditions, such as tuberculosis, emphysema, and
pneumonia.
Your doctor may order a chest CT scan if a standard
chest
x ray doesn’t help diagnose the problem. For example, your doctor
might order a chest CT scan after a chest x ray to:
- See more detailed pictures of your lungs and
other structures in your chest
- Find the exact location of a tumor or other
problem
- Show something that isn’t visible on a
chest x ray
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