Low-Dose CT Lung Screening (LDCT)

Low-dose multi-slice chest CT for early detection of lung nodules and lung cancer on a 128-slice GE Revolution Evo scanner. 37,000 HUF (≈€93). Available without referral if no chest screening in the past 12 months.

Wáberer Medical Center's low-dose CT lung screening (LDCT) uses the in-house 128-slice GE Revolution Evo scanner to produce thin-slice axial images of the entire chest at a radiation dose substantially lower than standard diagnostic thoracic CT. The examination detects pulmonary nodules as small as a few millimetres — lesions that are completely invisible on conventional chest X-ray — enabling early detection of lung cancer before symptoms develop, when cure rates are dramatically higher. At 37,000 HUF (approximately €93), the LDCT at WMC is one of the most accessible preventive lung cancer investigations in Budapest. WMC explicitly recommends the examination for people with chest complaints, a history of COVID-19 respiratory complications, persistent or long-standing smoking, or a prior episode of pneumonia. It is available without a physician referral provided no chest CT screening has been performed in the preceding 12 months, reflecting responsible radiation dose management rather than a financial barrier. The GE Revolution Evo scanner acquires sequences of the lungs, mediastinum, pleura, and bony thorax simultaneously. 3D reconstruction capabilities allow the reporting radiologist to assess the location, size, density, and morphology of any nodule detected, and to generate coronal and sagittal multi-planar reformats that provide a complete spatial picture of the chest anatomy. Low-dose protocols are calibrated to body habitus to keep effective radiation dose below 1–2 mSv — comparable to a few months of natural background radiation — while maintaining diagnostic image quality for the clinically relevant task of nodule detection. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally. Population studies such as the NLST and NELSON trial have confirmed that low-dose CT screening reduces lung cancer mortality in high-risk individuals — primarily current and former heavy smokers aged 50–80. WMC's explicit mention of post-COVID screening acknowledges emerging evidence for increased incidence of pulmonary findings in COVID-19 survivors, particularly those with documented pneumonia. All LDCT reports are prepared by board-certified radiologists experienced in chest imaging. The WMC CT facility operates Monday to Friday from 06:30 and on Saturday mornings, with telephone booking at +36 1 323 7000. The Hillside Office Building in Budapest XII is accessible by public transport and wheelchair accessible. For patients with incidental findings requiring further evaluation, contrast-enhanced chest CT is available at 64,000 HUF and CT angiography of thoracic vessels at 98,000 HUF.