Computed tomography scan for suspected lung tumor

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Doctor Trinh Le Hong Minh - Radiologist - Radiology Department - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.
In Vietnam, each year there are about 23,667 new cases and 20,170 deaths from lung cancer. The early detection of lung tumors and especially lung cancer plays a particularly important role. Computed tomography (CT) of the lungs is considered an effective measure in identifying lung tumors.

1. What is a lung tumor?

Lung tumors are the result of abnormal division and growth of cells in the lung tissue, or in the airways leading to the lungs. The process by which cells divide rapidly, however, do not die, leading to the accumulation of tumors.
If the tumor is 3cm or less in size, it is usually called a lung nodule. Tumors larger than 3cm in diameter are called a mass.
Characteristics of lung tumors:
It is not lung cancer, so it will not spread to other parts of the body. Lung tumors grow slowly, or may even stop growing or shrink. Lung tumors are usually not dangerous and are not life-threatening. Lung tumors can expand and push on nearby tissues but will not invade, destroy, or displace other tissues.

2. What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled reproduction and growth of abnormal cells in the lungs, usually the cells that line the air ducts. As cancer cells multiply, they interfere with lung function. Lung cancer cells can spread from the lung to the lymph nodes around the trachea, to the opposite lung, to the bones, brain, liver, and to other parts of the body.
Lung cancer is difficult to detect because there are no outward signs. If the patient is not treated in time, the metastasis of lung cancer takes place very quickly. This is a disease that can occur in any gender, at any age, meaning that everyone is at risk for the disease and is also one of the leading causes of high mortality in both sexes.
Therefore, the earlier lung cancer screening to detect the disease, the higher the effectiveness of the treatment.

3. What is a lung CT scan?

A CT scan, also known as a CT scan, is an imaging method that uses X-rays to scan a part of the body in a cross-sectional direction. For a lung CT scan, also known as a CT lung scan, the localized location of the X-ray is the lungs. By taking advantage of X-ray measurements, tomography will produce many image results from different angles on the part to be imaged. These are 2 or 3 dimensional cross-sectional layers.
The results of the lung CT scan are considered the basis for the doctor to make diagnoses about the patient's lung condition, including dangerous cancers in humans.
Lungs play an important role in the management of respiratory activities, the case of lung damage is extremely dangerous, directly affecting human health. Therefore, a lung CT scan will help you prevent dangerous diseases. Accordingly, lung computed tomography has important effects in medicine such as:
Diagnosis of diseases directly related to the lungs such as cancer, inflammatory mass, foreign body, tuberculosis... Tumor, location of foreign body. Orientation before surgery, radiation therapy at the lung position. Monitor patients being treated for lung-related diseases. Showing these results has a great effect on the diagnosis and treatment of doctors with lung-related diseases. Especially for a country with alarming air pollution like in Vietnam, early detection of dangerous diseases like cancer has a huge effect.
Accordingly, we warn some groups of people who are susceptible to attack by lung-related diseases such as: people who smoke a lot, people who are exposed to a lot of dust, people in a radioactive environment, families with history of lung disease... these people are likely to have a lung scan in the future.

4. What is a low-dose CT lung scan?

Low-dose CT lung scan is recommended to screen for lung cancer, is a new and updated form of imaging compared to traditional chest X-ray, this imaging method has outstanding advantages such as:
Main image exact:
Indicates the lung cancer is in the early stage when the size is very small. This imaging technique can reveal lung abnormalities the size of a grain of rice, while traditional X-rays can identify lung cancers the size of a dime. This is an important distinction because lung tumors are smaller when discovered; lung cancer cells are less likely to spread to other parts of the body. This means more treatment options and a better chance of survival.
Fast time:
Low-dose computed tomography of the lung is a chest computed tomography, with rapid capture, during a maximal inspiration, lasting no more than 25 seconds. The actual scan takes less than a minute to complete, and from start to finish, the entire visit takes about 30 minutes. Safety:
Lung computed tomography technique is quick, painless and non-invasive. Do not use contrast dye, do not inject, so it does not cause allergic reactions (itching, shock...). Low radiation dose is set at less than 1mSv (compared to standard dose about more than 2mSv/year), which reduces the risk of radiation exposure, so it is safe and recommended as the best method for screening, detecting early lung cancer i.

5. Location of lung tomography

Vinmec International General Hospital has become a leading prestigious address in lung cancer screening, currently has a Lung Cancer Screening Package with the following outstanding advantages: A leading specialist in the treatment of lung cancer, highly specialized and experienced. Comprehensive professional cooperation with domestic and international hospitals: Singapore, Japan, USA, etc. Comprehensive treatment and care for patients, multi-specialty coordination towards individualizing each patient. Having a full range of specialized facilities to diagnose the disease and stage it before treatment: Endoscopy, CT scan, PET-CT scan, MRI, histopathological diagnosis, gene-cell testing, .. Full range of main cancer treatment methods: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant... Before taking a job at Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital, the position of Doctor Since February 2018, Doctor Trinh Le Hong Minh has worked as a resident in the imaging department at hospitals: Cho Ray, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Oncology, Gia Dinh People's Department, Trung Vuong...from 2012-2015. Officially worked at Cho Ray Hospital from 2015-2016, City International Hospital from 2016-2018.
Currently, all Vinmec hospitals are applying lung tomography technique.

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