What is a ventilation/perfusion scan?
A ventilation/perfusion scan is a diagnostic nuclear medicine test that is used to evaluate the circulation of air and blood within your child's lungs. The ventilation part of the test looks at the ability of air to reach all parts of the lungs, while the perfusion part evaluates how well the blood circulates within the lungs.
During the ventilation part of the test, a mask attached to a bag filled with oxygen and a radiopharmaceutical gas, called Xenon-133, will be placed over your child's nose and mouth. Your child will be asked to breathe normally into the bag.
During the perfusion part of the test, a radiopharmaceutical called Technetium-99m MAA will be injected in one of your child's veins. A special camera, called a gamma camera, is used to take pictures of the lungs after the radiopharmaceutical has been injected.
