This test measures how well air can flow through the bronchi and bronchioles within your lungs. It uses a radioactive substance to trace the movement of air through the lungs. During the scan, a patient inhales a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen containing small amounts of radioactive xenon or technetium. The substance will then show up in the scanned image and gives information about how well your lungs are working.
No Special Preparation. Informed Consent Required.
Next Day*
Pneumonia Respiratory Pulmonology
1
A lung ventilation scan is a nuclear medicine test that evaluates how air moves in and out of your lungs. It helps doctors understand the airflow patterns in the lungs and is often done alongside a perfusion scan to assess both ventilation and blood flow.
It’s typically used to:
Diagnose or rule out a pulmonary embolism (PE) (when combined with a perfusion scan — called a V/Q scan)
Evaluate lung function before lung surgery
Investigate causes of shortness of breath, chronic lung disease, or asymmetrical lung function
You inhale a small amount of radioactive gas or aerosol (such as xenon-133 or technetium-labeled aerosols).
A gamma camera captures images as the gas moves through your lungs.
The test is painless and takes about 15–30 minutes.
Yes. It uses a very small amount of radioactive material, which usually clears from the body within a few hours. Side effects are rare. However, pregnant or breastfeeding women should inform their healthcare provider.
Ventilation scan shows how air moves through the lungs.
Perfusion scan shows how blood flows through the lungs.
Together, they form a V/Q scan, which provides a complete view of lung function and is especially useful for diagnosing blood clots in the lungs.
Yes, but the medical team will monitor you closely. Inhaling the radioactive gas or aerosol may cause mild shortness of breath in sensitive individuals.
