Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths.

Christopher Riedl, MD, PhD, helps people significantly lower their risk by offering lung cancer screening. Screening finds cancer at an early stage, long before you experience symptoms, giving you and your oncologist time to start preventive treatments.

Don’t wait to schedule an appointment if you need a lung cancer screening. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call the office or use the online booking feature today.

 

Why should I consider lung cancer screening?

Lung cancer screening can save your life. When screening detects lung cancer at an early stage, the likelihood of surviving non-small-cell lung cancer (the most common type) for five years or longer is 64%. By comparison, the five-year survival rate is 8%-37% after it spreads (depending on how far it metastasizes).

How is lung cancer screening performed?

Low-dose CT scans are the only recommended method for lung cancer screening. Though the screening exposes you to a tiny amount of radiation, it adds to the cumulative exposure from other X-rays or CT scans you may have had. Your cumulative radiation exposure determines how it affects your overall cancer risk. Don’t hesitate to call imagingwest if you have any questions about your risk factors.

When do I need lung cancer screening?

Smoking causes nearly 90% of all cases of lung cancer. As a result, screening recommendations are based on how much you smoke now or did in the past and how long ago you quit (if you stopped). Screening is recommended for long-time smokers over age 50. More specifically, you should consider screening if you: Smoked one pack a day each year for 20 years or longer (or two packs daily for 10 years) AND you smoke now or quit within the last 15 years AND you’re aged 50-80. Though other causes of lung cancer aren’t included in the official recommendations, you may want to consult with the team at imagingwest if you’re at risk due to other causes. For example, inhaling secondhand smoke is the next second most common cause of lung cancer. You can also develop lung cancer from exposure to substances like radon, asbestos, diesel exhaust, and air pollution.


What happens during lung cancer screening?

Your CT scan is done in a large machine with an opening in the center. You lie on a motorized exam table that carries you into the round opening. The components inside the machine rotate in a ring around you, taking cross-sectional X-rays of your lungs from every angle.  A computer turns the information into 3D images of your lungs, revealing any problem areas in the soft tissues. It takes time to prepare you for the scan and position you on the table, so the entire process takes about 30 minutes. However, the actual scan takes less than one minute. If you need to schedule lung cancer screening, call imagingwest or request an appointment online today.

Helpful Information

 

Important to know

  • Please bring copies of your most recent CT, X-ray, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) films with you on the day of your PET/CT scan.

  • No special preparations are required in advance. You can have a small breakfast on the day of the examination.

  • Drink plenty of water one hour before the examination.

  • On the day of the examination, contact with pregnant women or young children should be avoided.

What you need for a PSMA PET-CT

  • The examination costs are not reimbursed by the health insurance companies.

  • Some private insurance companies cover part of the costs, you should definitely submit our fee note there.

  • Depending on the medical question, an individual tracer is produced for your examination.

If you need to cancel your appointment

  • If need to cancel your appointment, please inform us of this no later than the day before by 12 noon, otherwise we will have to charge a cancellation fee.

  • Also, if we can’t reach you to confirm the appointment 48 hours before the exam we will have to reschedule you. You can of course also call us if you are not reachable.

 

How a PSMA PET-CT works

  • We will inject you a small dose of the radioactive tracer substance specially prepared for you.

  • Then wait 120 minutes in a lying position to achieve the appropriate tracer distribution and enrichment.

  • The recording in the scanner takes about 20minutes.

  • Drink plenty of fluids after the examination to speed up the elimination of the tracer.

  • Please let us know if you suffer from claustrophobia. Here are some tips if you do.

Side effects

  • No side effects are to be expected from the injection of the radioactive tracer itself.

  • Side effects can result from the administration of iodine-containing contrast medium in the context of the possibly accompanying contrast medium-assisted computed tomography (intolerance reaction, hyperthyroidism, exacerbation of a pre-existing renal insufficiency).

  • Please make sure to point out in the informative discussion if you have had a reaction to a contrast medium in the past (reddening of the skin, itching, swelling, shortness of breath, etc.).