“Why is a CT scan necessary for pneumonia? ”
The doctor noticed my mother wheezing and she also had a crackling sound when he would listen to her breathe. He ordered a CT scan to check for pneumonia, but I don't really think it's necessary. Are imaging tests required for pneumonia?
4 Answers
A chest X-ray is fine.
There is no necessity to obtain a CT scan to diagnose pneumonia. However, in certain patients, the purpose of the CT scan is to determine why they developed the pneumonia in the first place. Many times there may be a cancer blocking a bronchus to the lung or possibly a retained foreign body and a CT scan would show that finding. Without knowing any other information that would be the best answer for why the CT scan was ordered. It was performed not for the pneumonia but for what caused it.
In general, a CT scan is not necessary for this indication. Typically, just a chest X-ray will do. However, if he is worried about an atypical infection (walking pneumonia) or other types of lung disease, a CT is better. Just ask your provider what's on his mind!
For years, radiologists have known that regular chest X-rays were inefficient to diagnose subtle areas of infiltrates and lung nodules. CT scans can find many areas of pneumonia not readily detectable by regular X-rays. Also, complications like early abscess formation and fluid accumulation around the lungs is easier to detect. Obstructing lesions in the bronchi can be found which would ordinarily be missed by X-ray as can enlarged lymph nodes.
