Lung Scan
Nuclear Scan, Lung, Ventilation and Perfusion Scan
How To Prepare
Before your lung scan, tell your doctor if:
- You are or might be pregnant.
- You are breast-feeding. Use formula (discard your breast milk) for 1 to 2 days after the scan until the radioactive tracer has been eliminated from your body.
- Within the past 4 days, you have had an X-ray test using barium contrast material (such as a barium enema) or have taken a medicine (such as Pepto-Bismol) that contains bismuth. Barium and bismuth can interfere with test results.
A chest X-ray is usually done the same day either before or after the lung scan.
You may be asked to sign a consent form before the test. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: October 24, 2008 |
| Medical Review: |
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Myo Min Han, MD - Nuclear Medicine |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Test Overview | |
| Why It Is Done | |
 | How To Prepare |
| How It Is Done | |
| How It Feels | |
| Risks | |
| Results | |
| What Affects the Test | |
| What To Think About | |
| References | |
| Credits | |