lung scintigraphy

Most often, evaluation of pulmonary blood flow to exclude obstruction of a pulmonary vein (pulmonary embolism) is necessary. But before surgery on the lungs, the surgeon often wants to have information about the circulation of the affected lung area.

For this examination, you must inhale a low-level radioactive gas mixture through a mouthpiece for a few minutes. Subsequently, several images of the lungs are made using a special camera. Then you get a weak radioactive substance injected into a vein of the arm. Subsequently, the lungs will take pictures using a special camera. This examination lasts about 1 hour in total. You do not have to be sober.

Rarer examinations of the lungs concern the assessment of the "cleaning function" of the lungs or the respiratory tract. Again, you need to inhale a low-level radioactive substance for about 1 min. Thereafter, images of the lungs are made up to 1 h.