Radionuclide lung imaging
Used to diagnose pulmonary embolism and evaluate regional pulmonary perfusion and/or ventilation.
These studies can be both qualitative and quantitative and can distinguish between diffuse and regional pulmonary disease. The ventilation / perfusion ( V/Q) scan has the ability to display both regional airway and vascular integrity forming the basis for the non-invasive diagnosis of pulmonary emboli.
Indications
- Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism
- Preoperative assessment of high risk patients before planned lung resection, dead-space lung volume reduction in severe COPD, and lung transplantation
