Lung V/Q
This is a two part test to look at the blood and air supplies to the lungs either to check for the presence of small blood clots or to measure and compare how each lung works.
For the lung V study, to look at airways in the lung, you will be asked to breathe some air through a mouthpiece for about two minutes with a fine radioactive mist in it.
A series of images are then taken for about 15 to 20 minutes, whilst you lie on a special couch under the gamma camera.
For the lung Q study, to look at the blood supply, you will be given an injection in your arm of a small amount of radioactivity that is temporarily trapped in the fine blood vessels of the lungs.
Images will then be taken in exactly the same manner as the ventilation study. Sometimes a perfusion (Q) study is carried out without the ventilation study, in which case the images might be taken while you are sitting on a chair.
After all the images have been completed, they will be examined by one of our doctors and a report will be sent back to the patient’s referring doctor. If the scan result indicates that you need some treatment for your breathing problems, this will be arranged before you leave the department.