Pulmonary Blood Flow Scan

Also known as: lung scan.

What is pulmonary blood flow scan?

A pulmonary blood flow scan is an imaging test that is used to check the flow of blood through the lungs. It is a nuclear medicine test, which means that a small amount of radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream in order to enhance the clarity of the images.

What happens during the procedure?

The child will lay flat on a table, while a small amount of radioactive material is injected into the veins. After a few minutes, the images are taken using a special camera while your child lies flat on the table.
 

Is any special preparation needed? 

No special preparation is needed for this test.
 

What are the risk factors?

The small amount of radiation exposure during this test is considered safe. There is some mild pain and discomfort related to the injection of the substance into the veins.

Reviewed by: Antonio Rodriguez, MD

This page was last updated on: January 20, 2022 02:35 PM