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How do I prepare for a chest CT scan? You don't need to do anything to prepare for a chest CT scan, and you can eat and drink as usual before the test.

Many times, a CT scan is ordered by a doctor after noticing something abnormal in an X-ray. Although the CT scan cannot give a definitive diagnosis, it is helpful in the evaluation of lung diseases and conditions such as pneumonia, cancer, blood clots or damage caused by smoking.

The scanner moves inside the doughnut-shaped casing around your body. You will be asked to hold still during the scan. You may be asked to hold your breath for short periods. You may be alone in the scanning room, but a technologist will be watching you through a window and talking with you during the test.

The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT). During an LDCT scan, you lie on a table and an X-ray machine uses a low dose (amount) of radiation to make detailed images of your lungs. The scan only takes a few minutes and is not painful.

How long does a lung scan take? You should plan for your appointment to take around 30 minutes. The actual lung scan only lasts a minute or so. You can return home and resume your usual activities immediately after the scan.

A lung scan is a type of nuclear scanning test. It uses a special camera to take pictures of the lungs after a radioactive tracer is put into the body. It is most often used to find a pulmonary embolism.