Difference between low-dose CT lung and routine X-ray

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with resident doctor Nguyen Quynh Giang - Head of Radiology Department - Department of Diagnostic Imaging - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.
The early stages of lung cancer are often difficult to detect on routine radiographs, so patients miss the opportunity for early treatment. Therefore, low-dose CT lung scan has high value in lung cancer screening, is important in treatment and reduces mortality.

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

Low-dose CT lung scan is a detailed screening used to screen for lung cancer or abnormalities. A low-dose CT lung machine moves in a spiral and takes pictures of the lungs continuously. When low-dose CT lung scans, can detect abnormalities in the lungs even if very small.
Objects that should have low-dose CT lung scans include:
Frequent exposure to smoke, dust, pollution or living in a radioactive environment; Family history of lung cancer; People aged 50-75 People who smoke or quit within 15 years Lung cancer risk ≥ 1.3% in 6 years No disease that hinders surgical ability Have index > 30 PA Cases with demand.

2. What is a routine chest X-ray?

Routine radiography is a technique that uses a special room X-ray machine with a movable X-ray tube. Routine X-rays take pictures of the lungs, heart, airways, blood vessels, and lymph nodes. Based on these images, the doctor can diagnose:
Diagnose lung diseases such as pneumonia, atelectasis, lung cancer,... Identify fluid and gas inside the pleural cavity, surrounding space lungs Determine the status of broken ribs, damaged ribs when traumatized. Chest X-ray often gives quick results, is inexpensive, can see the whole lungs, heart shadow, thoracic cavity and large, unobstructed lesions on both lungs. However, routine radiographs are only the first step and cannot give the most reliable results.

3. Difference between low-dose CT lung and routine X-ray

In the early stages of lung cancer, it is difficult to detect on routine radiographs, so patients miss the opportunity for early treatment. Therefore, low-dose CT lung scan has high value in lung cancer screening, is important in treatment and reduces mortality. Low-dose CT lung scan has outstanding advantages such as:
Accurate picture: Shows lung cancer in the early stages when it is small in size, while routine X-ray can only identify lung cancer in size of a coin. So, the smaller the tumor when detected, the less likely the cancer cells will spread to other organs, so there are more treatment options and a better chance of survival. Fast time: Low-dose CT lung scan is a chest computed tomography, so in one maximal inspiration, it lasts no more than 25 seconds. The scan only takes about a minute to complete, so it only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. Safety: Low-dose CT lung scan is painless and non-invasive for patients. Do not use contrast material, do not inject, so it does not cause allergic reactions. Low radiation dose should reduce the risk of radiation exposure, safety should be recommended as the best method for early lung cancer screening and screening.

In summary, lung cancer is an extremely dangerous malignancy, if detected late, the mortality rate is higher, so each person should be aware of protecting their own health by having a health check-up. regular health, lung cancer screening. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has a lung cancer screening package with many outstanding advantages such as:
A team of highly qualified and experienced doctors Having a full range of specialized facilities for definitive diagnosis Diseases and staging before treatment: Endoscopy, CT scan, PET-CT scan, MRI, histopathological diagnosis, gene-cell testing... There are full range of mainstream cancer treatment methods. : surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant.... Lung cancer screening at Vinmec will help customers screen effectively and have timely treatment if detected.

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