Early detection of lung cancer (Smoker-Check) with Low-dose Computer Tomography
Smoking is the cause for the development of 90 per cent of this disease.
You may find more information on lung cancer (in German) under the following internet address: www.netdoktor.de/krankheiten/fakta/lungenkrebs.htm (German)
• Who should be examined?
• What is meant by Low-dose Computer Tomography (CT)?
• How should I prepare for the examination?
• What does the device look like?
• How will the examination be done?
• What will I feel during the examination?
• What happens after the examination?
• What are the advantages compared to risks?
• Smokers: inhaling cigarette smoke is responsible for 90 per cent of all bronchial
carcinoma.
• Second-hand smokers: Second-hand smoke leads to an increased risk of cancer. For
instance, female spouses of smokers have a 20 per cent increased risk of lung cancer,
males 30 per cent and mounting with longer exposure.
• Persons with family history: people, where one parent had bronchial carcinoma, have a
three-times higher risk of contracting the disease.
• Persons with known asbestos exposure: work materials such as asbestos cause
bronchial carcinoma.
• Persons with know scars on the lungs are also at higher risk.
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Computer tomography uses x-rays for the production of high-resolution images. Thanks to very modern computer programs, Low-Dose-Computer-Tomography reduces the necessary amount of x-rays by 90 per cent, compared to the conventional CT-scans.
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Do not eat two hours prior to the examination, but drink sufficiently. During the examination, you may be injected intravenously with a contrasting agent.
To better assess the risk of the contrasting agent, you will be asked before the examination about pre-existing conditions, such as allergies, heart, kidney or thyroid disease, as well as about a possible pregnancy.
Since metal parts can affect the imaging process, you will be asked to remove jewellery and any clothing containing metal pieces.
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The CT scanner is a large square device with a round opening in the middle.
The patient lies on the table and will be moved through the opening. An x-ray tube moves around the body of the patient and emits radiation. The emitted radiation will be measured and the computer can produce images from the received data.
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During the examination you will be monitored by our experienced CT team, which will be in contact with you through an intercom installed in the device. They can see you at all times.
The x-ray technician positions the patient comfortably on the examination table.
Depending on the area to be examined, the patient will be inserted into the scanning device either feet or head first. An examination will usually take about 5 minutes.
Occasionally a contrasting agent will be injected into an arm vein during the examination. This makes the blood vessels more visible by strengthening the colour contrast between them and the surrounding tissue.
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You may feel a brief burst of warmth when the contrasting agent is injected, which will disappear in a moment.
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The radiologist assesses the images produced by the examination at a special workstation and creates a report of the results.
The images will be explained to you in a subsequent discussion with the physician.
At the conclusion, you may generally take away the report and the images (also as a CD). Your own physician (GP) will receive the examination report simultaneously by fax.
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Advantages: Thanks to very modern computer programs, Low-dose Computer Tomography reduces the necessary amount of x-rays by 90 per cent, compared to the conventional CT scans.
This is comparable to the normal exposure to radiation of a single x-ray image.
CT scans of the chest area are advantageous in the clarification of most diseases of the chest area. The examination takes very little time.
Risks: During each CT scan the patient is subjected to radiation. Our state-of-the-art technology allows us to keep this to a minimum.. Nevertheless, the radiologist always considers alternative, radiation-free methods.
An allergic reaction occurs very rarely from the use of a contrasting agent containing iodine.
We are of course trained and equipped to deal with such emergencies. If you have had an allergic reaction to contrasting agent in the past, the radiologist will not administer it.
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