Chest CT

CT of the chest covering the lungs, mediastinum, heart, and thoracic spine, performed on a modern multi-slice scanner with low-dose protocols available for lung screening. The scan provides definitive imaging of pulmonary nodules, lymphadenopathy, pleural disease, and aortic pathology with sub-millimetre slice acquisition.

Chest CT at HELIMED is performed with thin-slice acquisition (0.6-1.0 mm) that enables detailed evaluation of the lung parenchyma, airways, mediastinal structures, and thoracic vasculature in a single breath-hold lasting approximately 10 to 15 seconds. The scanner's iterative dose-reduction algorithms allow low-dose chest CT (LDCT) protocols for lung cancer screening in high-risk populations — typically current or former smokers over age 50 — at radiation doses approaching 1 mSv, roughly equivalent to a mammogram. Standard-dose protocols provide comprehensive evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes (with size thresholds aligned to Fleischner Society guidelines), the thoracic aorta (including measurement of ascending aorta diameter for aneurysm surveillance), pericardium, and oesophagus. High-resolution CT (HRCT) sequences with prone imaging can be added for suspected interstitial lung disease, where the pattern of fibrosis (UIP, NSIP, organising pneumonia) directly determines management. Contrast-enhanced chest CT is available for pulmonary embolism evaluation (CT pulmonary angiography) and for characterisation of mediastinal masses and hilar lymphadenopathy. All reports follow structured lung nodule management recommendations (Fleischner or Lung-RADS) to standardise follow-up intervals.