CT of the thorax, chest (without contrast)

Chest tomography

A paper referral from a doctor is required to take the test.

A CT scan of the thorax (chest) is used in the diagnostics and imaging of lung conditions. It allows for precise visualisation of the organs and structures within the chest (e.g. pulmonary parenchyma, the organs in the mediastinum, the thoracic walls – ribs, muscles, and the adipose (fatty) tissues.

Once the patient is inside the gantry, an X-ray generating lamp is rotated around the patient’s body on a special frame. Passing through particular tissues of the patient’s body, the radiation becomes weaker. The degree of radiation depends on the type of tissue is has to pass through, e.g. through the bones, the X-ray wave is severely weakened, whilst when passing through air – the X-ray’s weakening degree is at a minimum.

This phenomenon makes it possible to precisely differentiate between the particular tissues in the patient’s body. Moreover, the X-ray lamp installed in the gantry, rotating around the patient’s body, illuminates every single point along its longitudinal axis, thereby providing the opportunity to obtain images of the selected layer of the patient’s body on a screen. The images obtained after each rotation of the lamp around the patient’s body (360°) are then summed up by a computer and displayed on a monitor as an image of anatomical structures from the particular transverse layers of the patient’s body. There is an additional option of the so-called secondary image processing, which involves setting and calculating the grey scale of the image, as well as measuring distances, surface areas, etc.). It is also possible to reconstruct the image in a plane other than the transverse one (e.g. the frontal plane) or even in three-dimensional pictures.

During the examination, the patient must not move to guarantee clear and sharp images. It is also important to remove all metal items from clothes and body, which might otherwise affect the quality of the images obtained.

Indications for the CT scan of the thorax (chest) without contrast:

• suspected neoplastic lesions of thoracic organs;
• chronic inflammations;
• pulmonary embolism;
• post-radiation lesions;
• chest injuries;
• ambiguous image upon thoracic (chest) X-ray;
• recurrent upper respiratory tract infections;
• recurrent dyspnoea;
• sarcoidosis;
• pneumoconiosis and asbestosis;
• interstitial pulmonary fibrosis;
• emphysema;
• deterioration in spirometry parameters;
• chronic, persistent cough;
• foreign bodies in the lungs.

A Damian Medical Center consultant will call you within 24 hours of purchase to arrange a specific test date.

Please, bring a medical prescription and confirmation of payment for the examination.

This examination may only be performed upon presenting a medical prescription (valid for 3 months) on the examination day in paper form.

Patients are requested to bring any previous medical documentation (CT, ultrasound, X-ray and MRI scans, hospital discharge reports and outpatient treatment reports). It is necessary to arrive 15-20 minutes before the examination at the reception desk (level -1) in order to fill in a mandatory form concerning the patient’s health (diseases, drug use, allergies, physiological condition, injuries, past surgeries).

The type and scope of the examination is ultimately determined by the radiologist supervising the examination – the radiologist, therefore ultimately decides whether to administer the contrast agent or not, or whether the examination should encompass a particular body part or a different one, or – for example, two at a time. In such cases, an extra payment may be required.

A paper referral from a doctor is required to take the test.

Contraindications to the CT scan of the thorax (chest) without contrast:

The main contraindication to the CT scan of the thorax (chest) without contrast is pregnancy or a suspected pregnancy. The radiation may have a harmful effect on the health of the unborn baby. Due to the fact that X-ray examinations have adverse effect on the human body, they may only be performed upon presenting a medical prescription (valid for 3 months) on the examination day in paper form.