What you should know! Guidelines for CT examination of lung nodules

Pulmonary nodules are small lesions in the lungs with a diameter of less than 3 cm. They appear as small round or oval images with smooth edges in CT (computed tomography) images. The detection and identification of pulmonary nodules is crucial because some pulmonary nodules may be a sign of early lung cancer. In this article, we will introduce you to CT examinations of pulmonary nodules and related guidelines to help you understand this important medical examination.

1. The significance of CT examination of pulmonary nodules

CT examination of lung nodules is a non-invasive, highly sensitive lung imaging examination method that can clearly display the internal structure of the lungs and help doctors find lesions such as lung nodules and lung cancer. CT examination of lung nodules is usually applicable to the following situations:

① Screening of high-risk groups: High-risk groups such as smokers, family history, and occupational disease history should undergo regular lung cancer screening, including CT examination of lung nodules.

②Symptom examination: Patients with lung symptoms such as cough, chest pain, and dyspnea need to undergo a lung nodule CT scan to determine the cause.

③Tumor monitoring: CT examination of lung nodules can also be used to monitor the growth and treatment effects of known lung tumors.

2. Operational procedures of CT examination of pulmonary nodules

①Preoperative preparation: The patient should fast for 4 hours to avoid food residue in the stomach that may affect the examination results. At the same time, the patient should also avoid irritating foods to avoid digestive discomfort.

② Examination location: CT examination of lung nodules generally uses thin-layer spiral CT scanning, and the main scanning planes include transverse, coronal and sagittal planes. This can comprehensively observe the location, size, shape and other information of lung nodules, which helps doctors make accurate diagnoses.

③ Examination process: When performing a CT scan of lung nodules, the patient needs to lie on the examination bed and then call the technician to operate the CT machine for scanning. The entire scanning process usually only takes 5-10 minutes and is not too time-consuming. It is worth mentioning that the CT scan of lung nodules is a non-invasive examination with a low radiation dose, which generally does not cause adverse effects on the patient's body. Therefore, patients do not need to worry too much about safety issues.

④ Postoperative treatment: After the CT examination of lung nodules, the patient can eat and move normally without special care. However, the patient should consult the doctor about the examination results in time after the examination and follow the doctor's advice for follow-up treatment and follow-up. During the entire examination process, the patient should cooperate and follow the guidance of the doctor and technician to ensure the accuracy and safety of the examination.

3. Interpretation of CT examination results of pulmonary nodules

① Positive result: A positive result means that the CT scan shows that there are nodules in the patient's lungs. At this time, the doctor needs to further evaluate the nature and characteristics of the nodules to determine whether they are malignant. This includes the size, shape, density, border and other characteristics of the nodules. For positive results, the doctor may recommend further examinations, such as PET-CT, to help diagnose the nature of the nodules. Some nodules may be benign, such as pneumonia granuloma or tuberculosis, but they may also be malignant, such as lung cancer. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for patients with positive results.

② Negative result: If the CT scan does not show obvious lung nodules, this is called a negative result. However, it is still necessary to pay close attention to the patient's clinical manifestations and screening results, because some nodules may be very small or hidden deep in the lung tissue and cannot be found. In this case, the doctor may recommend that the patient undergo regular follow-up examinations to ensure that no missed diagnosis is made.

③Classification judgment: According to the CT image characteristics, lung nodules can be divided into single nodules, multiple nodules, solid nodules, cavitary nodules, etc., to further guide the patient's treatment plan.

4. Precautions for CT examination of lung nodules

① Follow the doctor's instructions: Before undergoing a CT scan of lung nodules, patients should follow the doctor's instructions and comply with preoperative preparation requirements to ensure the accuracy of the examination results.

②Keep cooperating: During the CT examination of lung nodules, the patient needs to keep cooperating and follow the technician's instructions. Usually, the patient needs to take off his upper body clothing, put on a chest protective suit, and lie on the examination bed in a fixed position. During the examination, the patient needs to take a deep breath, hold his breath, or make corresponding movements according to the technician's instructions to ensure the clarity and accuracy of the CT image.

③ Follow-up and reexamination: For patients with lung nodules, timely follow-up and reexamination are very important. The doctor will formulate a corresponding follow-up plan based on the size, shape and pathological characteristics of the nodules. In general, malignant lung nodules grow rapidly and require close follow-up and regular reexamination in order to detect changes and progression of the lesions in time and take appropriate treatment measures.

Conclusion : CT examination of lung nodules is an important lung screening and diagnostic method, and is of great significance for the early detection and treatment of lung diseases. Through the introduction of this article, I hope to help you better understand the significance, operation process and precautions of CT examination of lung nodules, and timely detect and treat potential lung diseases while maintaining health. If you have related questions or need further consultation, it is recommended to consult a professional doctor in time to obtain timely and effective help and treatment. I wish you good health!

Author: Zhang Guodong Botou City Hospital