Diagnostic techniques for viewing the lung tissue. Several procedures allow a doctor to examine the lungs, including chest X rays, CT scanning (computed tomography scanning), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound scanning, nuclear scanning using radioactive contrast materials, and angiography.
Methods for producing images of the lungs are essential in diagnosing lung diseases. A chest X-ray is commonly employed to detect most lung conditions. CT scans and MRI are crucial in identifying and tracking the progression of lung tumors. Occasionally, ultrasound scanning is used to highlight a pleural effusion, which is a fluid accumulation around the lung. To find signs of a pulmonary embolism (a situation where a clot blocks a lung blood vessel), radioisotope scanning is employed, or a pulmonary angiogram contrast X-ray might be conducted.