What does chest enhanced CT scan check?

Chest enhanced CT is a type of examination used to diagnose chest diseases. Through chest enhanced CT, the patient's condition can be further determined, and various problems of the patient can also be diagnosed, which can provide a lot of basis for treatment. Therefore, chest enhanced CT is still very necessary. Next, we will introduce in detail the clinical significance of chest enhanced CT and the diseases that can be detected!

1. Chest wall

It can detect asbestosis with pleural thickening that cannot be shown on chest X-rays; when there is pleural effusion, if small pleural nodules or masses are found, it is helpful for the diagnosis of metastases and mesothelioma; based on the CT value of pleural masses, encapsulated effusion, localized mesothelioma and extrapleural lipoma can be distinguished; with the help of CT enhancement, chest wall hemangioma can be diagnosed; rib fractures and rib destruction can be well displayed.

2. Lungs

It is valuable for the early diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer. When the main bronchi, lobar bronchi and segmental bronchi are narrowed or truncated, it is helpful for the diagnosis of central lung cancer. High-resolution CT (HRCT) may show diffuse interstitial lesions that cannot be shown on chest X-rays, which is helpful for early diagnosis and differential diagnosis. It can also detect bullae, bronchiectasis, smaller tuberculosis cavities, etc. that cannot be shown on chest X-rays.

3. Mediastinum

It can detect enlarged lymph nodes that cannot be found on chest X-rays. According to the CT value and location of the mass, it can help to make a qualitative diagnosis of mediastinal masses. It can also be used to differentiate between fatty, cystic, and solid masses. Enhanced scanning can diagnose pulmonary artery aneurysms and aortic aneurysms.

4. CT angiography

It can be used for pulmonary artery angiography, and has a good display of pulmonary artery vascular branches above the subsegmental level, and can be used for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

5. CT virtual endoscopy

It can display segmental and subsegmental bronchi non-invasively, and observe lesions from the distal end of bronchial cavity obstruction and stenosis; it can also display multi-directional extraluminal anatomical structures, and accurately locate and determine the extent of extramural tumors.

6. Tomography

Since CT is a tomographic scan and has a density resolution 10 times higher than that of a chest X-ray, it can easily detect tiny nodules with a diameter of less than 2 mm.