What lung problems can be detected by CT scan?

CT examination can usually diagnose lung conditions such as pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, emphysema, pulmonary embolism, and lung cancer, providing important evidence for early detection and treatment of lung diseases. If abnormalities are detected, timely medical consultation is recommended. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Pneumonia: Bacterial or viral pneumonia often appears on CT images as patchy or ground-glass opacities. Some cases may show consolidation shadows accompanied by air bronchograms. CT can also assess whether there is pleural effusion or abscess formation.

2. Tuberculosis: Pulmonary CT demonstrates high sensitivity for diagnosing active pulmonary tuberculosis and can reveal typical features such as nodules, cavities, and tree-in-bud signs in the apicoposterior segments of the upper lobes or the dorsal segments of the lower lobes. Old tuberculosis lesions typically present as calcifications or fibrotic linear shadows.

3. Emphysema: Emphysema is a chronic respiratory disease that causes lung tissue damage and gas retention. CT clearly displays low-density areas resulting from lung tissue destruction, particularly in centrilobular or panlobular emphysema.

4. Pulmonary Embolism: Pulmonary embolism is a serious vascular disease caused by pulmonary artery obstruction, leading to pulmonary ischemia and necrosis. CT pulmonary angiography is the preferred method for confirming pulmonary embolism, directly showing filling defects or thrombotic blockages within the pulmonary arteries while also assessing right heart function and the extent of pulmonary infarction.

5. Lung Cancer: Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the lungs. Lung CT screening for early detection of lung cancer can identify millimeter-sized pulmonary nodules and evaluate their morphology, margins, and density to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. Contrast-enhanced CT can also assess tumor vascularity and invasion of surrounding tissues, providing evidence for developing treatment plans such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

In addition to the six common lung conditions mentioned above, chest CT can also detect other lung-related diseases, such as interstitial lung disease, pneumoconiosis, and bronchiectasis.

References:

[1] Li Bo. Clinical Features, Prognostic Evaluation, and Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism [D]. Jilin University, 2024.

[2] Wang Jun. Understanding CT Reports to Detect Early Signs of Lung Cancer [J]. Health Guide, 2024, 30(06): 12-14.