How is a CT Lung Screening different from a diagnostic CT Scan of the chest?
Low-Dose Screening CT is designed to supplement or replace routine Chest X-rays. It is specifically designed to screen for pulmonary nodules, and is neither designed nor intended to screen for abnormalities elsewhere in the thorax (i.e.- heart, aorta, lymph nodes, bones). The test is specifically designed to rapidly screen the lungs using the least amount of radiation exposure, to allow detection of pulmonary nodules. No intravenous or oral contrast is used. Unlike a Diagnostic CT it has been developed for asymptomatic patients and therefore most insurance companies do not reimburse for its cost.
