Lung Nuclear Medicine Scan

Nuclear medicine scan of lungs

Courtesy of Intermountain Medical Imaging, Boise, Idaho.

A lung scan is a test that uses a radioactive tracer to look at the lungs. Areas of the lung that retain too much air show up as bright or "hot" spots on the pictures. Areas that are not receiving enough air show up as dark or "cold" spots.

Figure 1 shows normal blood flow in healthy lungs. Figure 2 shows dark areas where blood clots (pulmonary emboli) are preventing normal blood flow through the lungs.

Credits

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerAnne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerMyo Min Han, MD - Nuclear Medicine
Last RevisedOctober 1, 2012
By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: October 1, 2012
Medical Review: Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Myo Min Han, MD - Nuclear Medicine

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