Hunterdon Radiological Associates, P.A. is dedicated to providing quality medical care by:
1. Being sensitive and responsive to the healthcare needs of the community
2. Protecting the privacy of the patient
3. Acting in a professional manner and maintaining the highest standards of personal integrity and ethics
4. Utilizing state of the art equipment and highly skilled professionals
CT Lung Screening
CT lung screening transforms the prognosis for lung cancer, just as mammography did for breast cancer and the PAP did for cervical cancer. With this scan, lung tumors can be found long before they appear on a traditional x-ray. Lung cancer tumors are typically the size of an orange by the time they are discovered. The CT lung scan can detect lesions no bigger than a grain of rice. Medical studies have proven that cure rates are much better when the disease is found in the early stage.
Hunterdon Radiological Associates recommends that individuals talk to their doctor about whether CT lung screening is right for them. Patients who have already been diagnosed with lung cancer will not benefit from this scan. Patients that have meet the following guidelines for CT lung screening will benefit from this scan; Persons of any age, symptom free (meaning no fever, no change in cough, no change in sputum, no coughing up blood, no weight loss and no chest pains), patients that are smokers or have a history of cancer. Exposure to second hand smoke, asbestos, radon and exposure are all factors patients should take into consideration when considering CT lung screening.
If you are not sure if this test is right for you, please contact your physician. In fact, we encourage all patients to work with their physician to incorporate the results of this test into their preventative healthcare plan. Nonetheless, we will provide this test without a doctor's referral if you are an appropriate candidate.
About The Exam Since it is critical to minimize the radiation and to provide complete lung coverage in a breathhold, the test will be performed on a helical (spiral) CT scanner with the most current software and hardware upgrades.
When you arrive for this procedure, you will be asked to complete a brief risk factor questionnaire. Next, you will lie down on the imaging table and a CT technologist will ask you to hold your breath while the images are being taken. Thats it! In twenty seconds, your exam is complete, and you may return to your normal routine. This procedure is pain-free and non-invasive.
Once the study is completed, a board-certified radiologist will interpret your films, and a written report detailing the findings of your study will be mailed directly to you within 48 hours.
Since most insurance companies do not yet cover CT lung screening, your will need to bring some form of payment with you on the day of the exam. All exams must be paid in full. The cost for CT lung screening is $300.00.
Screening examinations optimally should be repeated periodically. A negative examination today is not a guarantee that cancer will not develop in the future. Presently, the interval in which this examination should be repeated is not well defined. Base on currently available data, we suggest a yearly follow-up examination.
Patient Prep View this study's patient prep information. You will need to follow these guidelines before taking this exam
patients that are smokers or have a history of cancer. Exposure to second hand smoke, asbestos, radon and exposure are all factors patients should take into consideration when considering CT lung screening. 
Patient Prep