What is a lung perfusion scan?
A lung perfusion scan is a special nuclear medicine test that allows doctors to see which different parts of the lung are getting blood. Nuclear medicine tests are unique in that they involve imaging using a radioactive labelled tracer to visualize where blood is flowing in the lung.
Why use a lung perfusion scan to monitor progression in pulmonary vein stenosis?
The lung perfusion scans can show which parts of the lung are getting more blood than others. If a part of the lung receives less blood over time, it may be an indication that the pulmonary vein stenosis has progressed in that area. Some centers routinely use this test, while others rely on other imaging.
Things to know about lung perfusion scans
A lung perfusion scan uses a radioactive tracer that is injected into a vein. When the blood carrying the tracer reaches the lungs, imaging is done to see how much perfusion is in all the different parts of the lung. Your child with have exposure to a very small amount of radiation from the tracer.
Lung perfusion scans typically take less than 30 minutes.
Lung perfusion scans typically take less than 30 minutes.
Lung Perfusion Scan
- This test is a nuclear medicine test that involves a radioactive labelled tracer
- Lung perfusion scans let you see which part of the lungs are getting blood flow which can indicate if the PVS is affecting areas of the lung