{"id":1180,"date":"2019-08-07T11:53:50","date_gmt":"2019-08-07T06:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yza.ec2.mytemp.website\/blog\/?p=1180"},"modified":"2019-08-07T11:53:50","modified_gmt":"2019-08-07T06:23:50","slug":"what-is-a-lung-chest-ct-everything-you-need-to-know-before-getting-a-scan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/what-is-a-lung-chest-ct-everything-you-need-to-know-before-getting-a-scan\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a lung\/chest CT? Everything you need to know before getting a scan."},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you\u2019ve been recommended to get a CT scan of the chest \u2013 don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s a painless, non-invasive test, with minimized radiation, that helps the doctor find out what\u2019s troubling you by getting a clear picture of the internal structures of your body. A CT (Computed Tomography) machine uses a combination of X-rays and a computer to take images of the inside of your body. If you\u2019re wondering why you can\u2019t get an MRI scan instead of a CT for your lungs, it\u2019s because CT scans provide better images of air-filled organs like the lungs than MRI scans, enabling radiologists and doctors to study minor differences in lung nodules. Also, CT scans are faster – an important aspect because you may have to hold your breath during a lung scan in order to avoid blurred images due to movement.<\/p>\n

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How does a CT machine work?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>
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A CT scanner is like a large donut-shaped machine with a table in the middle of the donut-shaped ring. You will be asked to lie on the table, as it moves in and out of the donut ring. This ring then rotates, taking pictures of the body in multiple hi-resolution slices, which enable radiologists and doctors to view sections of your organs\/body more clearly. These slices are often compared to the slices of a loaf of bread \u2013 where each individual slice can be seen clearly, while being part of the whole.<\/p>\n

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CT scan and radiation:<\/strong> Throughout the scan, experienced radiologists will be controlling the amount of radiation dose, in order to use the minimum possible radiation required. Especially in the case of children, the radiation dose is continuously monitored and adjusted according to the size of the patient and the scan area. This is why it\u2019s crucial to get your scan done from a reputed center with qualified radiologists.<\/p>\n

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New technology in CT scan:<\/strong> Advanced CT scanners, like the multi-slice CT machines at Star Imaging, take multiple slices with just one rotation of the donut-shaped ring, making CT scans much faster. This renders the entire scan experience more comfortable, since patients don\u2019t have to lie still on the table for long.<\/p>\n

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How should you prepare?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>
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