ventilation scanning
Quick Summary
A lung ventilation/perfusion scan is a medical test that assesses airflow (ventilation) and blood flow (perfusion) within the lungs. This diagnostic tool is primarily used to identify pulmonary embolism, a blockage in the pulmonary arteries. It is also employed to pinpoint damaged lung tissue before surgical removal, particularly in cases of advanced lung cancer.
The scan utilizes radioisotopes. For ventilation, a patient inhales a radioactive gas, and for perfusion, a radioactive tracer is injected into the bloodstream. Images are then captured to visualize the distribution of these tracers. A match between ventilation and perfusion scans indicates healthy lungs, while a mismatch suggests disease. Areas of concentrated tracer (hot spots) show abnormal accumulation, while scarce areas (cold spots) indicate oxygen or blood deprivation, potentially leading to tissue death. The radioactivity levels are very low and pose minimal risk, though pregnant or breastfeeding individuals are generally advised against the procedure.
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
