How is a lung scan performed?
There are two parts to a lung scan. The first part is known as the ventilation scan. For the ventilation scan a mask is placed over your face and you inhale a radioactive aerosol. A scan is then performed with a gamma camera which identifies the distribution of the aerosol in the lungs. The second part of the examination is the perfusion scan. The perfusion scan involves an injection of a radioactive isotope tracer into a vein in the arm using a small needle. Immediately after the injection, scans are done with a gamma camera which show the distribution of the injected radioisotope in the lungs.
