Thoracic Pathologies and Radiation Problems

The scanner is the reference diagnostic tool for thoracic pathology. Unlike a standard X-ray, sectional images help to avoid the appearance of shadows. Thanks to the air in the lungs and the contrast media, the resolution is ideal for lung parenchyma examination. In addition, the thoracic scanner has a very high spatial resolution, exceeding the performance of the MRI as part of a health check.

Fast and easy to perform (4 to 5 seconds), CT scan significantly reduces movement artifacts. In addition, the various filters, the software and the 3D reconstructions make it possible to improve the interpretation of the images obtained. Unfortunately, the CT scan shows a very high level of radiation. The low dose chest scanner has been developed to work around this problem.

MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF THE TECHNIQUE

With the low-dose chest CT scan, the primary goal is to obtain usable images with a radiation level equivalent to that of a standard X-ray. The dose is then adjusted according to the age and body size of the subject. The examination thus displays a radiation rate in the order of 1/10th to 1/20th of the 25th percentile of the reference level. Set by the ASCN (Nuclear Safety Authority), this value corresponds to the average dose used in hospitals.

At its lowest level, the low-dose chest CT scan by the best CT scan Centre in Delhi provides satisfactory images for nodule observation or monitoring of problems such as pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pneumonia, etc. With a slightly increased dose, it can serve as a first-line examination for the management of certain diseases. The examination has been particularly successful in the early diagnosis of bronchial cancer in the context of the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST).

The lung scan may be useful for detecting blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), but it has largely been replaced by CT angiography in the diagnosis of this condition. Pulmonary scintigraphy can also be used as a preoperative assessment in people with lung cancer. Pulmonary scintigraphy uses small amounts of a half-life radioactive substance to measure air and blood flow throughout the lungs. In general, the exam is done in two stages.

In the first step (pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy), a radioactive substance is injected into a vein, and the scanner produces an image of the diffusion of this product into the pulmonary bloodstream. If perfusion scintigraphy reveals abnormalities, it is necessary to proceed to a second step (pulmonary ventilation scintigraphy).

INDICATIONS AND DISADVANTAGES

The low-dose chest CT scan is particularly interesting because of the quality of the images obtained, its speed and the significant reduction of radiation risks. The technique is mainly used for the early detection of bronchial cancer in a population at risk and the follow-up of various thoracic disorders. Thus, doctors can quickly adjust the treatment of patients, case by case. However, computed tomography poses a significant problem because of CT scan price in Delhi.

Currently, low dose CT screening for lung cancer is four times more expensive than for breast cancer and ten times more expensive than for colon cancer. As a result, it is currently inconceivable to use it for repeated checks. The latter can indeed take several years and generate excessive expenditure for patients and care organizations.

A low-dose helical computed tomography (CT scan center in Noida) scan is a type of medical test. It is used to detect early signs of lung cancer. If the test detects cancer, treatment can start early.

However, the test is not beneficial for people who smoke little or those who quit smoking more than 15 years ago and is generally not recommended for people under 55 or over 80 years of age. Even people who smoke a lot receive only a small benefit from the test, so you should think twice before taking the test.

Who should consider an analysis for detection?

The CT scan cost in Delhi for lung cancer is usually reserved for people who have the highest risk of developing this cancer, such as the following:

·        Older adults who smoke or were smokers. The analysis for the detection of lung cancer, generally, is offered to people of 55 years or more who smoke or were smokers.

·        People who have smoked a lot for many years. You can consider an analysis to detect lung cancer if you have a history of smoking 1 packet per year for 30 years or more. The pack years are calculated by multiplying the number of packets of cigarettes you smoked per day and the number of years you smoked.

·        People who once smoked a lot but stopped smoking. If you smoked a lot for a long time but have quit smoking, you can consider an analysis for the detection of lung cancer.

·        People with good health in general. If you have serious health problems, you are less likely to benefit from the screening test for lung cancer and are more likely to experience complications in follow-up testing. For this reason, the screening for lung cancer is offered to people who are in good general health.

·        In general, screening is not recommended for those who have poor lung function or other serious conditions that could make surgery difficult. This could include people who need continuous oxygen administration, who have suffered thinning without apparent cause in the past year, who have recently shed blood when coughing or who have undergone chest computed tomography screening in the past year.

·        People with a history of lung cancer. If you have been treated for lung cancer for more than five years, you may consider having an analysis for lung cancer screening.

·        People who have other risk factors for lung cancer can be those who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, those with a family history of lung cancer and those who are exposed to asbestos at work.

How long the analysis for detection should be continued?

Not all medical groups agree on how old you can consider stopping the test for lung cancer. In general, continue to perform the annual analysis for the detection of lung cancer until the time when you do not benefit from it, as when you manifest other serious conditions that may leave you too weak to undergo cancer treatment.