MBP Offers Low Dose CT Lung Screenings

Low Dose CT Lung Screening

Mary Bird Perkins at St. Tammany Parish Hospital now offers low dose CT lung screenings for early detection of lung cancer. People with a history of cigarette smoking have a high risk of lung cancer. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk of lung cancer. High levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase your risk.

It is recommended that those with high-risk factors receive this screening; risk factors include being age 55-77 with a history of tobacco smoking of at least 30 years, one pack per day. These high-risk candidates include current smokers or someone who has quit smoking within the last 15 years.

One of the keys to more successful treatment of lung cancer is early detection of the disease. Often, lung cancer is detected in its later stages, when it has compromised the function of one or more vital organs and has spread throughout the body.

The screening test is performed with a low-dose spiral (helical) CT. The CT scanner rotates around your body while you lie still on a table that passes through the center of the scanner. The CT scan provides detailed images of the inside of your body, generated by a computer that combines the x-ray images taken from different angles. The screening CT can be performed with a single short breath-hold and takes about 7-15 seconds.

To schedule a low dose CT lung screening, call 985-898-4581. The nurse navigator will then determine if the patient is eligible for the test, and proceed from there. Initial screen will cost $99. If there is an abnormal finding, the patient’s insurance will typically cover the resulting cost.