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If you have chest pain, a chronic cough, difficulty breathing, or similar symptoms, a chest CT scan can determine the cause. At Southwest Pulmonary Associates in Dallas and Plano, Texas, the highly trained team diagnoses and treats the cause of abnormal chest CT scans to reduce your risk of potentially serious health problems. Schedule a pulmonary evaluation at Southwest Pulmonary Associates by phone or request one online today.
Abnormal Chest CT Q & A
What is an abnormal chest CT scan?
A chest CT scan is a type of imaging procedure that uses computed tomography imaging and X-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of your upper abdomen and chest. An abnormal chest CT is simply an image demonstrating irregular results, which could indicate an underlying lung disease, heart problem, or similar condition.
How are chest CT scans performed?
Before you complete a chest CT scan, you’ll likely change into a hospital gown and lie down on a narrow table that slides into a scanner. The machine uses X-rays to take images of your chest and abdomen while you stay still. The procedure often takes just a few minutes to complete.
Your provider might administer a special dye (contrast) into your body intravenously before the procedure begins to contrast, or make stand out, specific areas of your body. There’s no recovery time needed afterward (unless you were given a sedative to help you relax), so you can resume typical daily activities right away.
What might an abnormal chest CT scan mean?
An abnormal chest CT at Southwest Pulmonary Associates could indicate one or more of the following conditions:
- Tumor
- Lung nodule
- Cysts
- Chest injury
- Fluid or bleeding in the lungs
- Chest infection
- Inflammation
- Blood clots
- Emphysema
- Lung scarring
- Damage to an artery
- Pulmonary embolism
- Heart problems
- Lung cancer
- Lung diseases
- Pneumonia
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Bronchiectasis
- Chest lymphoma
- Esophageal cancer
You might need this procedure if chest X-rays and a physical exam are inconclusive. Chest CT scanning helps determine the underlying causes of chest pain, breathing problems, chronic coughing, and similar symptoms.
What happens after an abnormal chest CT scan?
Further evaluation may be required to determine a diagnosis and how to best treat your condition. After identifying the cause of an abnormal chest CT scan, the Southwest Pulmonary Associates team discusses your treatment options.
They may recommend further diagnostic testing, watchful waiting, oxygen therapy, medications, smoking cessation, or surgery. They personalize a plan that’s best suited for you and follow up to ensure your treatment is effective.
Ways to reduce your risk of further problems include following your treatment exactly as instructed, not smoking, using a mask if your job exposes you to toxic fumes, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and minimizing stress.
Schedule an evaluation at Southwest Pulmonary Associates by phone or request one online today to determine the cause of an abnormal chest CT scan and how to best treat it.