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What is Lung Screening ?

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Lung Screening at Colorado Heart & Body Imaging is a program designed to detect early signs of lung disease and cancer at a time when preventive action and treatment is successful.

Our program consists of a lungscan by Electron Beam Tomography (EBT) and a breathing test called spirometry (pulmonary function test). We are also available to you and your doctor for advice and we have relationships with leading lung doctors in the region for referral. The EBT scanner is FDA approved for single breath lungscanning —the radiation dose is very low. During one deep breath, the scanner is able to create very thin tomograms (slices) of the entire lung for review by board certified radiologists. We are looking for —

1. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis)
2. Inflammatory conditions, pneumonitis and infiltrates in lungs
3. Nodules and masses-benign or malignant, they usually need to be followed for changes in size or referred to a specialist.
4. Pleural disease-changes in the lining of the lungs (e.g., asbestos exposure)
5. Detection of lung cancer. Stage 1 lung cancer is highly curative. It is unlikely that a chest x-ray will detect curative lung cancer.
6. Changes in blood vessel patterns in lung seen in certain circulatory conditions
7. Thoracic spine abnormalities
8. Hiatal hernias

The pulmonary function breathing test requires you to take a deep breath and blow forcefully out through a measuring device called a spirometer. We can measure your breathing capacity and determine whether you have normal or abnormal lung volumes and breathing flow rates. As the National Lung Health Education Program advises— "Know your numbers!"