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22/Sep/2025

Medical imaging has advanced well beyond mere X-rays, and extravagant machines are now available which can ideally view the inside of the body. One of the most beneficial tools for physicians today is the CT scan, which involves the use of contrast. They aid clinicians in identifying issues at the earliest stage within the different organs. The process is also quick, secure and far less threatening than most people would want to believe.

I am a healthcare specialist with experience in diagnostic imaging, where I have observed that explaining the CT scan with contrast helps patients understand the significance of this test. Contrast images bring out the details that are not visible in the normal scans. Through ViaScan, patients can undergo advanced CT services that integrate the latest technology and prioritise patient comfort. We will discuss the special qualities of contrast CT scans and when they may be prescribed to you.

What is a CT scan with contrast, and what is the difference between a traditional CT scan?

  • A CT scan with contrast is a CT scan of normal power, with added control.
  • Normal CT images are clear in showing bones and certain organs. 
  • The use of comparison resembles the use of bright paint, which makes blood vessels, organs, and tissues look so much more colourful and clearer. 
  • The contrasting agent is transported in your blood, and this gives us an indication of the regions that need to be checked. 
  • The contrast-enhanced procedure CT is much more detailed for the doctor as compared to a typical scan.

What is contrast dye made of, and how does it work?

Iodine, which is safe for most people, is commonly used as the contrast dye. It functions as a highlighter to your insides. Once injected, the dye spreads in the blood and results in special tissues appearing brighter in CT images. Iodine will absorb X-rays in a different way to increase the contrast of structures. The dye is filtered out by your kidneys like any other waste, in an approximate period of 24 hours. The ViaScan team controls the procedure to maintain quality and security.

When do doctors recommend a CT scan with contrast?

When physicians need to see blood vessels, detect infections, or examine soft tissues more clearly, they prescribe contrast. Frequent CT scans can be particularly useful for bones and certain organs, as contrast helps identify issues that would otherwise be difficult to detect.

 If your doctor suspects a problem with blood circulation, is looking for tumours, or simply wants to examine the inside of your kidneys, liver, or other organs, they will likely request a contrast scan. Contrast is frequently used to provide a complete picture of the heart, lungs, and wellness scans. ViaScan has experts who collaborate with your referring doctor to select the most appropriate imaging method to suit your needs and health issues.

What conditions can a CT scan with contrast help detect more clearly?

A CT scan enhanced with comparison allows you to see various health issues more clearly than a standard scan. 

  • It particularly works well in identifying blood clots, 
  • testing blood vessels,
  • identifying infections and the functionality of organs. 

Contrast is useful in helping doctors identify any obstructions in your blood vessels or veins, as well as issues with your kidneys, liver, or how blood circulates to various body parts. It also helps in preventive scans, which investigate your general health. ViaScan is a firm specialising in thorough body wellness scans that detect problems at their early stages, when they are most treatable. This capability to detect early on makes the contrast-enhanced CT scans useful in maintaining good health.  

Is a CT scan with contrast safer?

A contrast enhanced CT scan procedure is safely performed on most people, but your doctor will review your medical history first. They will especially take care of kidney functioning and allergies. Individuals who have specific kidney issues or allergies to iodine might require special preparation or the use of a different imaging procedure. 

Pregnant women tend to avoid contrast scans unless necessary. The contrast applied is computed depending on your body weight and the scan itself. Viascan offers great safety measures, with well-trained technologists monitoring you throughout the procedure. Most of the population will feel okay during and after the contrast-enhanced CT scan.

Where can I get my health scanning done?

In ViaScan, we do not just take pictures. We provide comprehensive diagnostic services, including heart scan, lung scan, and wellness body scans, to help prevent potential health complications. The preventative scanning is a strategy that empowers patients to manage their health by detecting issues at an early stage and following up.  

High-quality equipment and qualified medical workers guarantee that every contrast-enhanced CT scan will provide the comprehensive information that physicians require to make an accurate evaluation. We will ensure your comfort with the process by clarifying all our actions and addressing your concerns.  

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Conclusion

The attraction of knowing what a contrast-enhanced CT scan is all that, and eliminates the mystery and anxiety that are sometimes associated with medical practice. Such scans are an effective tool that enables the doctor to have an amazing view of the inside of your body with high clarity and detail. The contrast enhancement introduces important data in the proper diagnosis and treatment planning.  

The power is in knowledge as far as your health is concerned. As an active participant in your healthcare choices, you learn about such procedures as contrast-enhanced CT scans. The professional staff of ViaScan is ready to clarify any questions, and the person will also feel at ease in the whole process.


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14/Jul/2025

Your lungs are quite awesome! The lungs are in constant action all day and night, day in and day out, sucking air and giving your body the oxygen it requires. However, what if you smoked such weed over several years? It is one of the questions many people are interested in, and the answer is even more interesting than you can imagine.

Your lungs have experienced a major change after 5 years of smoking cannabis. They react just as any other organ in your body responds to what you feed it. Modern medical technology, such as a lung scan service, will enable you to know what happens to your chest. Being a radiology expert, I am going to tell you what happens to your lungs after several years of smoking cannabis. 

Does weed harm your lungs just like Tobacco?

And it is the question which people most likely ask, and it is a clever question! The answer to this is short: Both weed and tobacco are different to the lungs, but they involve inhaling smoke into the lungs.

Medical research says that cigarettes not only produce smoke but also more than 7000 chemicals in the smoke, and at least 70 of these chemicals are known to be carcinogenic. Nicotine is also present, which constricts the blood vessels and reduces oxygen circulation.

The cannabis smoke is rich in irritating chemicals like those of tobacco, yet it lacks the chemicals introduced during cigarette production. However, it is still smoke, and any smoke is likely to irritate your lung tissues.

However, here is the important part: both types of smoke can trigger irritation, cough, and alteration of your lung tissues. An early lung scan for smokers can detect if anything serious needs to be looked at.

The good news here is that lungs are tough. They possess remarkable cleaning mechanisms that actively remove particles and repair damaged components.

What Does the Lungs Change Five Years After Smoking Weed?

By your 5th year of smoking pot, your lungs have probably developed several ways to respond. Imagine that your lungs have been overworking themselves for the past 5 years.

Common changes are:

  • Heightened mucus production: your lungs produce more mucus. 
  • Airway irritation: The air sacs, which carry the air to your lungs, will be irritated and a little swollen. 
  • Lung tissue transformation: Some alterations may even be present in the small air sacs in your lungs (or alveoli).
  • Poor lung capacity: Others realise that they are not able to take in deep breaths.
  • Chronic cough: cough that persists.

What we must remember is that all these changes do not come up overnight. Your lungs have been slowly acclimating over the past five years. 

Can lungs repair when one gives up smoking weed?

And this is where the good news appears! The lungs are amazing curing engines. As soon as you quit smoking, they begin to mend themselves at work almost immediately.

This is the result of quitting:

In the first 24 hours, there is the commencement of the cleaning of your lungs of mucus and other foreign objects. It is possible that you will initially cough more as your lungs clear themselves.

  • During 1-2 weeks, the Increase in the size of your airway is reduced. 
  • In 1-3 months, your lung performance begins to increase. 
  • Within 6-12 months, you are often successfully treated for your chronic cough, and it improves significantly or disappears.
  • 1-2 years after: The large portion of irritation and inflammation in your lungs has healed. You are at a normal risk of lung infections again.

The earlier you quit, the better your lungs will be able to repair themselves.  So does stuff such as your general health, how much you smoked and whether you have other problems. Not every Weed Smoker Develops Lung Problems. Not all the people who smoke marijuana develop severe problems with their lungs! The same as not every person eating fast food after having heart disease, each person is different in the way they respond to cannabis smoke.

Those that influence your risk include:

  • The extent to which you smoke
  • The state of your general health
  • Your genetics
  • Your age

Numerous users of cannabis remain several years without getting notable complications in their lungs, particularly when they consume it in moderate proportions and keep their general condition in check. It is, however, advisable that you monitor your body and seek check-ups if you experience frequent coughing, feelings of breathlessness, and chest pains.

The Value of Early Detection and Professional Supervision

As a diagnostic imaging professional, I cannot overemphasise the importance of being aware of what is truly happening inside your lungs. Most changes in the lungs occur slowly, and you may not be aware of these symptoms until they have developed further.

It is here that professional imaging services become so useful. A lung scan of a smoker: Your doctor can use a lung scan of some smokers to give detailed images of your lung tissues, so that she can find out areas of irritation, inflammation or even some changes that are not yet manifested or causing problems yet.

Sensitive imaging, like a CT scan of the lungs after smoking cannabis, has enabled the detection of tiny alterations in the lung tissues. These tests are painless and only take a few minutes, yet they may contain extremely insightful details about the state of your lungs.

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Conclusion

Lungs are wonderful organs that do an outstanding job of making you fit. They have already experienced a lot in the past 5 years using cannabis, and they are also amazingly able to heal themselves once they are provided with the opportunity. Using modern imaging technology at ViaScan, it has never been more convenient to check on how your lungs are functioning and monitor any changes.

Knowledge is power as far as your health is concerned. Regardless of whether you worry about your past cannabis use or need to keep track of your health condition in the future, professionally based services at ViaScan are the ones that can deliver much-needed, high-quality imaging and complete health tracking.


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07/Jul/2025

Blood clots are a common health concern for many people, particularly when they are exposed to news about clots spreading throughout the body and appearing in the lungs. The good news is that once you grasp how this is done, you can remain relaxed and be prepared in advance for what to look out for. You might think that it’s not very comforting, but with the facts, it’s not. At ViaScan, we help patients understand their risks and offer preventive lung and heart scans to detect potential issues early. There are no technical medical terms or clear facts that enable one to know what is going on with their body and when they must visit.

What is a blood clot? Where do they normally occur?

A blood clot is a patch that your body creates to stop the bleeding process. Just imagine it to be a bandage on your body. Blood clots are beneficial when they occur in the case of a cut, as they prevent excessive blood loss. However, in some cases, blood clots form in areas where they are not supposed to, such as in your blood vessels.

Which are the common locations of clotting?

The most usual places are the deep veins of your calves or thighs

  • Arms: Not very frequent, but possible
  • Pelvis: Occasionally, within the lower extremities of your pelvis
  • Other locations: Can develop in other body parts

When it occurs in a deep vein (it most often happens in your leg), you can be diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis or DVT. It’s like a livestock jam on your blood highway, which is unwarranted.

Why do the clots move to the Lungs?

Some of the reasons can be: 

  • Blood flow in your leg goes to the heart.
  • The blood flows into your lungs through your heart, which pumps it first.
  • The blood vessels in the lungs become smaller and smaller
  • The vein becomes too narrow, due to which the clot is stuck

A preventative lung scan can catch any blood clot that has travelled its way to your lungs. With clear imaging technology, you can take early action to improve your health. 

How Quickly Can a Blood Clot Travel from the Leg to the Lungs?

This is the question everybody would like to know! The trick is that you would be surprised by the answer. The rate varies according to several factors:

  • Clot size: The smaller ones move faster
  • Your heart rate: The quicker your heart rate, the quicker your travel
  • Blood flow: the quality of the blood circulation
  • Your activity level: Exercise influences blood circulation.

Important facts:

  • Not all leg clots make their way to the lungs
  • Some clots remain there and dissolve
  • Naturally, the body has a system to dissolve clots
  • Travelling can be prevented through rapid medical care

However, the most important thing to remember is that if you experience symptoms, do not wait to see if the clot travels or not; seek help directly.

What are the DVT early symptoms?

It is lifesaving to identify the early signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. That is what to look out for:

General symptoms in your leg:

  • An enlarged leg compared to the other one
  • Pain: When walking, aching pain or cramping pain
  • Warmth: The area associated with the disorder feels hot when touched.
  • Redness: skin colour changes
  • Tenderness: it is painful to the touch

Important notes:

In most cases, only one leg is more involved than the other. Pain may manifest as a persistent cramp in a muscle that does not subside. If you experience them, particularly when they are sudden or occur more frequently, you should seek medical attention.

Which symptoms accompany a clot that has moved to the Lungs?

If a clot migrates to your lungs, it is referred to as a “pulmonary embolism,” and its symptoms differ substantially from those associated with leg clots.

Common signs Emergency signs
Shortness of breath: Suddenly, breathing becomes difficult Extreme chest pain
Chest pain Trouble breathing
Rapid pulse: Your pulse beats at a quicker-than-normal rate. Passing out
Coughing: There could be blood or pale, frothy foam brought up. Coughing blood
Leg symptoms: Can still experience pain or swelling in the legs

Is it possible to keep blood clots from moving?

There are numerous ways to avert the formation of blood clots and their movement:

Lifestyle prevention:

  • Keep moving:
  • Exercise: consistent physical movement aids healthy blood circulation
  • Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
  • Cease smoking: doing so elevates the risk of clots.
  • Maintain a healthy weight: Excessive weight puts pressure on veins.\

Medical prevention:

You may take medications that help prevent clots. Early detection combined with prompt treatment.  Health scans enable the detection of problems in the early stages.  Follow the movement recommendations provided by your physician.  Even minor movements help. Recognising the condition early is essential for averting serious complications. At this point, modern health screening services become crucial.

  • Ultrasound can detect blood clots in the legs.
  • CT scan: Shows any clots in the lungs
  • Whole-body scans: Thorough health screening
  • Lung scan: An imaging procedure dedicated to the lungs

Seek the professional assistance of qualified medical practitioners who will be able to determine the level of personal risk and advise accordingly on the necessary screening in relation to health history.

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Conclusion 

The description of blood clots moving from the leg to the lungs may be frightening, but understanding how it occurs can help you remain calm and know what to do. It is essential to detect symptoms early and seek help promptly. And it all comes down to the fact that your body is spectacular at healing itself, provided you support it properly. Most individuals who get blood clots fully recover after treatment. It is good not to overlook symptoms and seek help when necessary.

In situations where you are concerned about your risk of developing blood clots and wish to learn about preventive health screenings, ViaScan offers a comprehensive health screening package that includes advanced imaging scans and full-body scans. One of the best investments one can make is to take charge of their health through early detection and prevention.


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07/Apr/2025

Can you visualize trying to breathe through a wet sponge? Each breath becomes a fight, air wadding slowly through water log passages. Patients who suffer from pulmonary edema feel this vivid sensation every day, which is a potentially fatal situation when fluid seeps into the sanctuary of your lungs. Pulmonary edema is a complex condition associated with heart failure that can also be caused by many other things but is so dangerous that it should be treated as soon as possible and correctly diagnosed, including with an advanced imaging test like a lung scan to determine if it is something other than lung cancer or pneumonia.

The Mystery of Fluid Where It Shouldn’t Be

Have you ever wondered how, in our lungs, the blood vessels do not make the organs wet with blood? Pulmonary edema is a fascinating balance between physics and biology when disrupted.

What exactly goes wrong when it all goes wrong?

Inside your lungs, there are millions of tiny air sacs (alveoli) where gas exchange miracle takes place. Those are the small air sacs where oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide leaves. Normally, these spaces stay dry and efficient in balance with forces that are very precisely right.

When pulmonary edema develops, the balance is shattered. 

  • First, it is for liquids to leak from pulmonary capillaries into surrounding tissues.
  • It then shoves off into the interstitial spaces between various structures.
  • It finally floods into the walls of the alveoli themselves.

That makes each breath a diminishing return, struggling to oxygenate as it becomes an increasingly impenetrable barrier to the gas. This can rapidly become life-threatening as if trying to extract oxygen from water rather than air. Pulmonary edema can evolve progressively over weeks to weeks or can develop quickly, in seconds, in hours. 

How Modern Imaging Uncovers the Truth?

How do doctors breach the enigma within your wrap of chest cavity? The story starts here. The humble chest X-ray remains the frontline detective but now has joined the investigation: A chest X-ray will reveal characteristic ‘butterfly pattern’ of fluid distribution; more sophisticated tools now come to the aid.

Studies in the European  Respiratory Journal (2018) by Assaad and colleagues suggest that the use of ultrasound can detect edema beforehand when it becomes symptomatic and can improve diagnostic accuracy by an impressive 17% in combination with clinical exam. Advanced images: CT scans help exclude pulmonary edema from mimics of the lung, such as lung cancer, pneumonia, or pulmonary fibrosis

How can you catch Edema Before a Crisis?

If you could only know that during times of crisis, your body speaks to you first, so to speak before the events actually come crashing down. It is the subtle signals that pulmonary edema sends, sometimes misread, sometimes dismissed, until the dramatic symptoms are present, that is the most fascinating aspect of pulmonary edema.

Consider these curious warning signs:

This includes unexplained weight gain due to secreted fluid retention.

  • Coughing occurs at night and almost completely disappears when you sit upright during nighttime.
  • Suddenly, you woke with the odd sensation that you were drowning
  • Sleeping with increasingly more elevated head positions

What is most interesting, however, is that many of these symptoms happen in patterns that can be recognized early on, sometimes before it becomes too late to prevent an emergency from occurring. Despite that, many people don’t trace those dots until that moment when someone is rushing to the emergency room.

What can be medical emergencies at high Altitudes?

In the nick of time, here’s a fascinating twist: perfectly healthy people can develop pulmonary edema just from getting too high too fast. It is different from other forms that plague people with medical conditions; it only strikes mountaineers and travelers who are at fault altitudes above 8,000 feet.

What makes this form unique? 

The condition triggers because of the very air, or, rather, the lack of it, around you.

  • The thin mountain air causes hypoxia (low oxygen).
  • It will spark a change in a blood vessel.
  • Pressure increases in the pulmonary circulation.
  • Where it shouldn’t, it starts to leak fluid.

Oddly, the progression begins with an out-of-the-ordinary breathlessness during activity, followed by never-ending coughing, gradual reduction of exercise capacity, and ultimately not being able to breathe even while you are standing still.

What can be the solution?

 The best medical intervention, even elegantly simple, sometimes happens: descent to lower elevation and supplemental oxygen.

Pulmonary edema is a fascinating meeting of cardiology, pulmonology, environmental and emergency care. Whatever the reason, the common theme is fluid accumulation, where there should only be air.

When outcomes depend on early detection through advanced imaging, the whole situation is transformed. Visualizing the exact pattern and distribution of fluids can tell doctors the difference between causes of the same symptoms that could require completely different treatments.

Controlling your respiratory health.

Are you having breathing difficulties that cannot be explained? Have you been visibly breathing any of the warning signs we have mentioned? Consider these steps:

  • Watch out for patterns of your breathing problems.
  • Look for anything to do with activity, time of day, or position.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider regarding even otherwise minor symptoms.
  • If these concerns continue to persist, don’t hesitate to ask a responsible provider about appropriate imaging.

As always, remember, knowledge about pulmonary edema is not only medical knowledge but potentially life-saving knowledge for bridging the perceptible gap between confusing symptoms and efficacious treatment.

Whatever the case may be, whether acute, like pulmonary edema, or chronic, comprehensive lung imaging can be useful to those who are worried about respiratory health. Modern non-invasive imaging technology provides the ability to see the details of the behavior of the lung tissue and helps in better diagnosis and better-targeted treatment.

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Conclusion

To understand pulmonary edema, one must understand the numerous causes and present various diagnostic approaches. ViaScan also provides lung scan services for those concerned with respiratory health. Their non-invasive imaging technology allows clinicians to visualize details of how lung tissue is behaving, so patients can be easily diagnosed based on the cause of their respiratory symptoms and their treatment plan clearly created. As both acute conditions like pulmonary edema and chronic diseases like lung cancer require early detection for the optimum outcome, ViaScan’s comprehensive screening services serve as an important facility in preserving respiratory health and recognizing and treating problems when they are not yet critical.


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10/Feb/2025

Lung cancer ranks among the top cancer-causing deaths worldwide and is usually discovered only at an advanced stage. Detection at an early stage will improve survival rates, but such signs are often overlooked. Many of these symptoms should be recognized, and people should seek immediate medical evaluation, including a CT scan where possible, to make a big difference in outcomes.

Is a Persistent Cough a Painless Sign of Lung Cancer?

A persistent cough that haunts you for more than eight weeks is indeed an early indicator of lung cancer. Occasional coughing is not unusual, but a persistent cough that gets worse over time coughs up blood, or turns phlegm-colored should not be ignored. In this study by Rivera et al. (2020), one of the most common symptoms reported by lung cancer patients is persistent coughing, thought to be an external infection or allergies that last. If a cough doesn’t respond to usual treatments, it is a good idea to have a CT scan or, more specifically, a lung scan to find out what is causing it.

Why Does Shortness of Breath Occur in Lung Cancer Patients?

Dyspnea occurs when lung tumors block airways or fill fluid in the lungs. Gradually, this symptom may develop, and it may become apparent during physical activity. However, as it progresses, even basic tasks such as climbing the stairs or taking short walks can be very difficult. According to Wang et al. (2021), shortness of breath is commonly linked to reduced lung function resulting from the growth of tumors and, thus, a symptom for early detection. Seeking medical attention and having a lung scan to diagnose lung conditions can help if breathing difficulties persist.

Is Unexplained Weight Loss Related to Lung Cancer?

Unexplained weight loss is a common symptom of several cancers, including lung cancer. The spread of such cells to other parts of the body, when they create a different metabolism in the body, can cause rapid weight loss with no diet change. In addition to unintended weight loss, patients may have poor appetite or are extremely fatigued. Rivera et al. (2020) note that more than 60% of lung cancer patients at the time of diagnosis suffer considerable weight loss. A CT scan ought to be done if anyone has unexplained significant weight loss (more than 10 percent of body weight) within 6 months.

What Role Does Chest Pain Play in Lung Cancer Diagnosis?

Other alarming symptoms include chest pain. Tumor growth in lung cancer patients can cause chest pain if it presses on the chest wall, nerves, or ribs. It can be a persistent pain, or it can be intermittent and gets more painful with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing. Wang et al. (2021) suggest that chest pain stemming from the removal of lung tumors near the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lungs) is more common. A person’s doctor can seek a CT scan to rule out any problems if they have unexplained chest discomfort, together with other symptoms such as coughing or breathlessness.

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Conclusion

The early warning signs of lung cancer (which, as you know, includes persistent cough, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, and chest pain), if recognized, will increase your chances of early disease diagnosis and success of treatment. However, with these symptoms, a lung scan to rule out or diagnose lung cancer in the early stages is an essential step. The advanced imaging solutions provided by ViaScan include precise CT scans that help detect lung abnormalities so the needed medical intervention can be done as early as possible. Act now to save your life by early detection.


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21/Oct/2024

Lung blebs are lesions known to develop on the surface of the lungs, which are less than 2 cm in size and air-filled. Most of the time, though, they are common and have no cause for alarm. Zits can cause serious health problems at some times. Patients need to know what blebs are, what causes them, and what lung bleb treatment options are out there. In answering some of these questions, this article will give detailed information about lung blebs, the risks involved, and available treatments.

What are Blebs?

This is especially known as a bleb lung, which sees small blisters, or air pockets, form on the outer layer of the organ. These pockets are usually filled with air and are positioned between the lung’s outer membrane, pleura, and the inside surface of the chest cavity. However, most pulmonary cystic lesions seen as blebs are usually not serious and are mostly innocent. However, in some circumstances, they can pop like balloons and allow air to leak into the chest cavity, causing a lung to collapse, also known as pneumothorax.

Can Lung Blebs be Cancerous?

As much as one may be worried by the presence of a bleb lung, you have to appreciate the fact that blebs are actually benign and cannot become malignant. They are essentially harmless openings and are not connected to lung cancer in any way. Nevertheless, if additional symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath or if a person has been smoking, they should go through a lung scan procedure to address other problems, including cancerous tissues or other lung diseases. A lung scan is a non-invasive test that can help your doctor get a detailed understanding of your lungs. During this scan, the doctors can determine whether a person has blebs in the lungs or any other form of tumor.

What is a Bleb in the Lung?

A bleb in the lung is a small cyst-like formation that forms between the lung and the pleura. Its symptoms are observed in tall and thin people, especially smokers, but everyone may become a victim of blebs. When blebs rupture, they explode and vent air into the intrapleural space and contribute to the formation of a pneumothorax that may be partial or complete. It may be a life-threatening condition, and an urgent call to a physician and possibly lung bleb surgery is needed to fix the situation and avoid a relapse. Lung blebs can be found accidentally on imaging examinations such as chest or lung scans, usually because of other conditions.

What Causes Blisters on Lungs?

The cause of lung blebs, which are sometimes referred to as blisters on the lungs, is not well understood. Nevertheless, that which is established can be held to reduce the likelihood of their occurrence. Certain factors, therefore, cause them. Some of the causes include smoking because it affects the health of the lung tissue and increases the possibility of the formation of blebs. People who are tall, thin, or have a family history of blebs are considered most vulnerable to developing skin lesions.

Sometimes, people develop blebs due to other lung diseases like emphysema, and these people are prone to contracting blebs. Pressure on the lungs through coughing and physical exercise can also cause the formation of blebs. If the bleb bursts, then the person may need surgery to repair the damage done to the face. Lung bleb surgery means the excision of the area of the lung that had broken down to avoid the occurrence of further harm, such as pneumothorax.

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Conclusion

Pulmonary blebs are usually asymptomatic but can be lethal if they burst and cause lung collapse or pneumonia. Luckily, the problems characterizing a lung bleb can be cured through lung bleb treatment, including surgery. Preventive is always better; a lung scan may lose the underlying issues and ensure early.

At ViaScan of Las Colinas, we boast of the latest imaging solutions, such as the lung scan procedure used to diagnose lung irregularities before they worsen. If you or a close one are potentially developing lung blebs or any other lung-related ailments, then getting a scan might be worthwhile to get a better view of your health status and to get the correct treatment if need be.


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12/Jun/2024

A CT (computed tomography) scan of the chest produces fine-grained pictures of the heart, blood arteries, ribs, airways, and lymph nodes using specialized X-ray equipment. Your doctor can identify the underlying causes of chest symptoms, including cough and chest discomfort, with the use of chest CT scans. CT scans of the chest can be used to identify lung illnesses, including early-stage lung cancer. A lung malignancy A CT scan may detect malignant growths with high accuracy.

However, because CT scans are so thorough, there is little chance that you will receive a false positive. As with mammograms, 12–14% of early lung cancer CT scans result in false positives. After the first scan, the false positive rate for CT scans decreases to 6%. Getting a CT scan for lung cancer is still the most effective strategy to avoid dying from the disease.

What is a lung cancer screening

When a person has a high chance of developing lung cancer but is otherwise healthy. Lung cancer screening is a procedure performed to find out whether lung cancer has already developed. For older persons who have smoked for a long period but do not exhibit any symptoms or indicators of lung cancer, screening for lung cancer is advised.

To check for lung cancer, medical professionals use a low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) scan of the lungs. Treatment for lung cancer is more likely to be successful if it is found in its early stages. Talk to your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of using lung scan for lung cancer screening. You can determine whether screening is suitable for you by cooperating.

Will a heart CT scan show lung cancer?

The amount and density of the mineral present in the blood capillaries supplying the heart’s arteries are rapidly and automatically measured by cardiac CT scans. One well-known indicator of the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke is coronary artery calcium. When the calcium score is zero, the risk of various illnesses is modest; when the score is greater than 400, the risk increases by about five times. Unfortunately, the precise prevalence of lung cancer at cardiac CT for lung cancer has not yet been thoroughly assessed.

This could be due to the small number of lung cancer cases that have been proven, as well as the fact that peripheral lung cancers. That are missed fall outside the cardiac field of view, making it impossible for studies that solely examined cardiac scans to measure what they were unable to see.

Can cancer be detected in a CT scan?

This might be the case because both scans are of the chest. Your doctor has to be aware of the precise organ or organs being examined, though. Your doctor might not even consider looking for lung cancer warning signals and might not order as thorough of a scan if they believed they were examining the arteries in your heart. Make sure you inform the Preventative Diagnostic Centre staff whether you would like to have a simultaneous scan of your heart and lungs. One way to cut expenses and radiation exposure is to combine a lung CT scan with a cardiac CT scan.

This is especially helpful for COPD patients who are more likely to have cardiac problems. But the reasoning applies to everyone who is worried about their heart and lungs. To put yourself at ease, a low-dose CT scan for lung cancer is a simple, non-invasive solution. If something is discovered, the test can be the one that saves your life.

Can a CT scan diagnose lung cancer?

A CT scan creates fine-grained cross-sectional pictures of your body using X-rays. Unlike a traditional X-ray, which only takes one or two images, a CT scanner collects numerous images. Which are then combined by a computer to display a portion of the body being examined. Lung tumors are more likely to be discovered by a CT scan than by standard chest X-rays.

It can also assist in identifying enlarged lymph nodes that may contain cancer that has spread, as well as the size, shape, and location of any lung tumors. This test can also be performed to search for tumors in other body sections. That may have spread from lung cancer.

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    • Accurate
    • Quick Result
    • Affordable

Conclusion 

Even while there are tests and gadgets that allow you to perform an at-home lung cancer test. They cannot diagnose or rule out lung cancer on their own. Discuss the findings with a physician or health care facility like Via Scan of Las Colinas, who can use them in conjunction with further diagnostic procedures like lung scans and a biopsy to aid in the diagnosis. The findings of these tests may only be interpreted and recommended courses of action by a physician.


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03/May/2024

The lungs are vital organs located in the chest. They are essential to the respiratory system’s ability to breathe in oxygen-containing air (inhalation) and exhale carbon dioxide (exhalation). It is crucial to keep an eye on the health of your lungs since any flaw in this process might have a negative influence on your ability to operate daily. Spirometry is one of the most fundamental medical procedures used to examine lung health; these tests include known as lung scan function tests or pulmonary function tests (PFTs). It necessitates going to the doctor or other medical facility. When lung disorders like asthma necessitate more regular lung health checks, this presents a hurdle. Because of this, one needs to keep an eye on obvious systems that enable home lung health testing.

How to Test Yourself for Lung Cancer?

While there are a number of at-home screening tests available for some diseases, such as colon cancer, lung cancer is not among them. Even if comparable tests are being developed, only a physician can perform tests to diagnose lung cancer at the present time. Early detection of lung cancer might enhance your prognosis. Home testing may be able to detect signals produced by cancer cells even in the absence of symptoms.

To find out whether more testing is required, it’s crucial to follow up with a physician or other healthcare provider because you might misunderstand the results. To diagnose lung cancer, a medical professional may use imaging tests or a biopsy. Since at-home tests still carry some danger, many medical professionals advise against using them.

What Does a Black Spot on your Lung Mean?

A pulmonary nodule is typically described as a spot on the lungs. This is a tiny, spherical tumor on the lung scan that appear on imaging scans as a white spot. These nodules usually have a diameter of fewer than three centimeters (cm). Don’t worry if your doctor discovers a pulmonary nodule on a CT or X-ray of your chest. Most pulmonary nodules are benign or noncancerous, and they are rather frequent. Up to half of all lung CT scans reveal nodules. A malignant lung nodule would often measure more than 3 cm in diameter or exhibit other features, such as an uneven form.

 What is a VQ Scan?

The Ventilation (V) Perfusion (Q) scan, commonly known as a VQ scan, consists of two scans that measure blood and airflow in your lungs. The first scan evaluates the efficiency of your lungs’ airflow. Your lungs’ blood flow path is examined in the second scan. The ventilation scan’s airflow and the perfusion scan’s blood flow should coincide if the lungs are functioning normally.

A discrepancy between the perfusion and ventilation scans (V being superior to Q) may point to a PE or obstruction. You will be given a “tracer,” which is a low-risk radioactive material, for both scans. This material releases radiation that highlights any regions with irregular blood or airflow.

 How Long Does a VQ Scan take?

VQ scans consist of two distinct scans. In the initial scan:

  • You have to be cautious not to move about as you lie on a table.
  • It will be necessary for you to cover your mouth and nose with a breathing mask.
  • You will be required to breathe in a small quantity of low-risk radioactive gas through a tube for around five minutes. You won’t feel any difference after using the petrol.
  • Under a scanner, the table will move; therefore, you must remain still.
  • Your chest and the movement of air in your lungs will be captured by the scanner on camera.

    In the subsequent scan:

  • You have to be cautious not to move about as you lie on a table.
  • A low-risk radioactive dye will be injected into your arm by your doctor.
  • The dye will enter your lungs and pass through your blood.
  • Under a scanner, the table will move; therefore, you must remain still.
  • The imaging device will capture pictures of normal lungs’ blood flow.
  • Each scan takes around 15 minutes, and the whole VQ scan takes between 45 and 60 minutes.

 Can a VQ Scan Detect Lung Cancer?

VQ scans have a limited role in early lung cancer detection. A pulmonary blood clot can be diagnosed with a VQ scan. If untreated, blood clots can be lethal. Your doctor may suggest a VQ scan if you are experiencing signs of a blood clot, such as severe discomfort while breathing in and shortness of breath. A pulmonary embolism, or PE, is another name for a blood clot. Your doctor may also recommend a VQ scan to assess lung function prior to or following surgery. In order to determine your lung function, providers may also utilize a VQ scan: 

  • Following a lung transplant.
  • Prior to having a lung removed entirely or in part surgically.
  • In the course of diagnosing or treating lung disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

 What Does a Normal CT Scan of the Lungs look like?

A normal-sized lung CT scan for Cancer shows no inflammation, enabling the diaphragm to dilate. Emphysema patients’ lungs may seem over inflated due to muscular atrophy, which distorts the diaphragm. Cystic alterations result from the demise of air sacs. 

  • Physicians may view intricate images of a patient’s lungs using computerized tomography (CT) scans.
  • They resemble X-rays in that they display a bigger picture of the injured area of the body. 
  • Compared to X-rays, lung CT scans may capture a variety of tiny images.

 These may help medical professionals determine whether a patient has emphysema or whether their lungs are in good shape.

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    • Quick Result
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Conclusion

Even while there are tests and gadgets that allow you to perform an at-home lung cancer test, they cannot diagnose or rule out lung cancer on their own. Discuss the findings with a physician or health care facility like Via Scan of Las Colinas, who can use them in conjunction with further diagnostic procedures like lung scans and a biopsy to aid in the diagnosis. The findings of these tests may only be interpreted and recommended courses of action by a physician.


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07/Nov/2023

One of the most common and lethal types of cancer, lung cancer, causes a significant number of cancer-related fatalities each year. Notwithstanding advancements in medical care, lung cancer is frequently detected at a stage where the illness has already spread and progressed. The absence of noticeable symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer is the cause of this delayed discovery. Most individuals are unaware that mild early symptoms, such as persistent cough or exhaustion, might be indicators of cancer.

What is Lung Cancer?

 The uncontrolled growth of cells in lung tissue indicates lung cancer. Usually, it begins as a tiny lung tumor that gradually enlarges over time to generate additional tumors that spread to other body areas. Lung cancer comes in two primary varieties: small cell and non-small cell. Although nonsmokers can also get lung cancer, smoking is the leading cause. Coughing, wheezing, chest discomfort, exhaustion, and weight loss are some symptoms. Although lung cancer is deadly in its advanced stages, it is frequently treatable if detected early through screening. The most remarkable results are obtained when the immunotherapy procedure, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery are paired with early discovery.

Do Lung Cancer Symptoms Come and Go?

Lung cancer symptoms might be difficult to identify; they frequently manifest slowly or come on and off.  Generally, people are concerned about the symptoms of such severe diseases, and the question of how I knew I had lung cancer is asked frequently. 

If you encounter any of these symptoms, which might include the following, you must exercise caution and consult with a medical expert.

  1. Chronic cough: A persistent cough lasting several weeks or months.
  2. Breathing difficulty that does not get better is known as shortness of breath.
  3. Chest Pain: Back, shoulder, or chest discomfort.
  4. Unexplained Weight Loss: Sudden weight loss without a discernible reason.
  5. Hemoptysis: coughing blood is a problematic symptom that must be treated immediately.
  6. Repeated Respiratory Infections: Frequent lung infections may be a sign.

Regular check-ups and lung cancer screenings are essential since early discovery can significantly improve prognosis.

What Does Lung Cancer Pain Feel Like?

Not everyone with lung cancer feels pain, and the intensity of discomfort varies from person to person. Usually, in the early stages, a patient may not feel intense pain but may feel tired.  When it does happen, it might show up as:

  • A dull ache is a low-level, chronic pain in the back, shoulders, or chest.
  • Sharp or Stabbing Pain: Abrupt, severe pain in the region of the ribs or chest.
  • Pain to the arms, neck, or jaw is radiating pain.
  • Pleural Pain: Pain resulting from inflammation of the lung lining or pleura.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that not every back or chest discomfort is indicative of lung cancer. Consult a healthcare expert for a thorough review if you have any concerns.

Does Lung Cancer Cause Chest Pain?

A significant issue for those concerned about lung cancer is chest discomfort. Chest discomfort can be caused by lung cancer, but it’s not necessarily the only cause. There are several possible causes of chest discomfort, such as:

Tumors: Chest discomfort may result from a tumor pressing on the chest wall.

Chest Infections: Lung ailments, such as pneumonia, a respiratory infection, can produce pain in the chest.

Swelling: Pleurisy, or inflammation of the pleura, can cause pain.

If you have chest discomfort, you must have regular checkups and examinations right away because several different medical disorders can cause it.

How I Found Out I Had Lung Cancer?

A lung cancer diagnosis can be an emotional roller coaster ride for many of us. The human body is designed in a way that it can communicate, but to know what is wrong, one must pay attention to even tiny indicators such as pain. Here, a question arises: “Can I detect serious medical conditions such as lung cancer?” The answer is yes. Even if one pays little attention to these signs, one might still know what is happening with their body. Taking proper care, being vigilant, and having regular checkups are the keys to a healthy life. Screening processes make things a lot easier in terms of the identification of anomalies. With precise and high-quality imaging, medical professionals can detect abnormalities at a very early stage. 

Lung Cancer Screening Centers.

Centers for lung cancer screenings, such as ViaScan, facilitate early detection, which is essential for better results. When lung cancer is still in its early stages and most curable, these specialist institutions use cutting-edge imaging technologies to identify it.

CT lung cancer screening scans are one kind of screening. This creates cross-sectional lung pictures with little radiation exposure using CT algorithms. Advance algorithms allow the radiologist to identify any anomalies in the organ. Radiologists review the scans to find cancers before they cause significant symptoms. 

Nuclear medicine lung scans are another method of diagnosis. This uses radioactive tracers that are administered intravenously to monitor blood flow in the lungs. Unusual tracer buildup identifies problem locations. Nuclear lung scans offer functional information to supplement CT’s anatomical imaging.

How is a Lung Scan Performed?

A lung scan is a screening process that involves taking images of the respiratory system and lungs using specialized equipment such as a CT scan machine. The key steps are as follows:

  1. To ensure that no metal items or clothing interferes with the procedure, the patient will be requested to change into a hospital gown.
  2. The technician will inquire about any allergies, medical problems, or medicines while explaining the process.
  3. On a table that slips inside the scanning device, the patient rests flat on their back. There could be a cushion available for comfort.
  4. The table is moved into the scanner, which does cross-sectional imaging while rotating in a spiral pattern around the chest. The patient needs to lie still.
  5. It takes 10 to 30 minutes to scan. To obtain clean scan pictures free of motion blur, patient participation is essential.
  6. Urine rapidly removes the radioactive tracer from the body following the scan. There is no need for recovery time or anesthesia.
  7. A radiologist then examines the lung pictures to look for anomalies such as inflammation, clots, infections, and lung cancer.

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Final Thoughts

When discovered early, before it spreads outside of the lungs, lung cancer has a better prognosis and a higher possibility of effective treatment. Potential lung cancer signs, such as a chronic cough, chest discomfort, or unexplained weight loss, should be watched out for, and we should consult a doctor right away if any appear. As CT or nuclear lung scans can detect malignancies in their early stages, regular screening is advised for high-risk populations, such as smokers, even in the absence of symptoms. Increased screening knowledge and use can help detect lung cancer early while there is still hope for a cure. Lung cancer outcomes can be significantly impacted by being proactive and seeking rapid medical attention at the earliest indications.

FAQs

What signs and symptoms of lung cancer are most typical?

A chronic cough, blood in the cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, hoarseness, and unexplained weight loss are the most typical signs of lung cancer.

What is the cause of non-smoker lung cancer?

A genetic predisposition, asbestos exposure, radon gas exposure, or air pollution can all lead to lung cancer in nonsmokers.

Is it possible to treat lung cancer if detected early?

 It’s true that when lung cancer is discovered in stages 1 or 2 before it spreads, the survival percentage is significantly greater. The best outcomes come from early treatment with alternatives, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted medication treatments.