The pulmonary ventilation and perfusion scintigram is a nuclear medicine study that allows both situations of the lung parenchyma to be studied separately.
First, ventilation is assessed by inhaling a radioactive aerosol, usually technetium-99m-DTPA, which is distributed throughout the lungs in relation to respiratory function. The resulting image shows the distribution in the lungs and can help identify areas of reduced or absent ventilation.
Next, pulmonary perfusion is studied by intravenously injecting a radiopharmaceutical (such as technetium-99m-albumin macroaggregates) that is distributed throughout the circulatory system and reaches the lungs. The resulting image shows the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the lungs and can help identify areas of reduced or absent blood flow.
The combination of these two images can help identify lung problems such as pulmonary embolisms, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, among others.
APPOINTMENT
If you have an appointment, you must have a doctor's referral.
SCHEDULE
Check the study schedule from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
PREVIOUS STUDIES
Previous studies must be brought along.
WHERE TO HAVE THE TEST DONE
Admission must be completed at the reception desk, and then the study is performed in nuclear medicine.
