What Does a Lung Ventilation/Perfusion Scan Show?
A lung ventilation/perfusion (VQ) scan shows how
well air and blood are flowing through your lungs. Normal results will show
full air and blood flow to all parts of your lungs.
If air flow is normal but blood flow isn’t,
you may have a
pulmonary
embolism (PE). PE occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks
blood flow.
The results of the scan will show whether
you’re at high, medium, or low risk for PE. However, a VQ scan alone
won’t confirm whether you have PE. A scan showing low blood flow in spots
may reflect other lung problems, such as lung damage from
COPD
(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Your doctor will use the VQ scan results along with
results from a physical exam,
chest
x ray, and other tests to make a diagnosis. |