V/Q scan
What is a V/Q scan?
Two imaging tests are combined into a V/Q scan to search for specific lung issues. Tests include:
- A ventilation scan that counts the amount of air entering and leaving your lungs.
- A perfusion scan that measures the blood flow (how blood flows in the lungs)
You can do the two scans independently or simultaneously.
A tracer, a tiny quantity of which is used in a V/Q scan, is used to look for illness in the body. The scans aid in diagnosing a pulmonary embolism, among other lung problems (PE). A PE is a potentially fatal obstruction in a lung artery. It often occurs when a blood clot that is lodged in another body organ escapes and moves to the lungs.
Other names: Other names of this test are ventilation/perfusion scan, pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan, lung scan, lung V/Q scan