Radiology
Low-Dose CT (LDCT) Lung Cancer Screening
Low-Dose CT (LDCT) Lung Cancer Screening
Lung health is vital for a healthier, active you. Every breath you take fuels your body and mind throughout your lifetime. That’s why staying on top of your lung health should be part of your annual wellness routine. Windsong Radiology offers a low-dose CT lung cancer screening that can detect cancer before it becomes symptomatic. This quick, painless, and safe CT scan typically takes 15 minutes and evaluates the lungs for early signs of cancer that may not be visible on a standard chest X-ray. When lung cancer is caught early, treatment options and outcomes improve dramatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Low-dose CT lung cancer screening is recommended for individuals between the ages of 50 – 77* with a history of heavy smoking (20 years one pack a day, two packs a day for 15 years, three packs a day for 10 years). Former smokers must have quit within the past 15 years.
*Insurance coverage may vary. Medicare and Medicaid covers for adults aged 50 to 77 years.
Low-dose CT lung cancer screenings are painless and typically last 15 minutes. You’ll lie on a table that rides on a track through the doughnut-shaped scanner. You’ll be asked to relax and lie still so that the machine can capture clear images. At times, you may be asked to hold your breath for up to 10 seconds. During the scan, you may hear low humming sounds from the CT machine as it rotates around you, producing images from different angles. These images are then studied on a computer screen by your radiologist.
Please arrive 15 minutes early.
One of our subspecialized physicians will review your scan and send a report to your physician. Your physician will contact you to discuss the results. If your scan is normal, you should repeat the screening in a year. If the radiologist detects a pulmonary nodule that raises concern, you may be asked to return for a diagnostic CT exam. Keep in mind that nodules detected on the screening exam are often determined to be benign granulomas or scars – not cancer – on the diagnostic study.
Visit our Locations page for more information. Imaging modalities and associated studies vary by location. Please contact us to schedule your visit at a convenient location near you.
Request an appointment online or contact us at 716-631-2500.
Most insurance providers cover annual low-dose CT lung cancer screenings if you meet high-risk criteria. Since insurance coverage may vary, please call (716) 631-2500 so that we can help you determine your personal insurance coverage. If your insurance provider does not cover the screening, or if you do not have insurance, you will be billed at the time of service. If additional imaging is recommended as a follow-up, these scans are typically covered by insurance.
