CT Scan for the Lungs

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States. The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is only 14%. However, it is estimated that the survival rate may be increased to 80% through early detection and treatment. Lung scan is a tool used for the early detection of lung cancer.

A painless, 20-second lung scan could save more than 100,000 lives annually in the United States by detecting lung cancer at an early, curable stage. Dramatic findings from Cornell University show that low-dose CT scan can find lung tumors long before they appear on traditional chest x-rays.

By detecting cancerous tumors at an early stage, an individual's survival rate may be significantly improved.

NYU Medical at Columbus features lung scan equipment that provides some of the most accurate and safest diagnoses in the early detection of lung cancer and other lung abnormalities. Lung scan may be a useful tool for the early detection of lung tumors and other lung abnormalities in people with following risk factors:

• Smokers (cigarettes, cigars, or pipes)
• Exposure to secondhand smoke
• Exposure to cancer-causing agents such as asbestos and radon
• History of tuberculosis or pneumonia
• Family history of lung cancer