Spiral CT Scan

A technique called a low-dose helical CT scan (or spiral CT scan) is sometimes used in testing for lung cancer. This procedure requires a special type of CAT scanner. The heightened sensitivity of this method is actually one of the sources of its drawbacks, since lung nodules requiring further evaluation will be seen in approximately 20% of people with this technique. Ninety percent of the nodules identified by low-dose helical screening CTs are not cancerous, but require up to two years of costly and often uncomfortable follow-up and testing.