During a perfusion scan, the tracer is injected into a vein in the arm. It travels through the bloodstream and into the lungs. Pictures from this scan can show areas of the lungs that are not receiving enough blood. The tracer is absorbed in areas of the lung where the blood flow is normal.
For the perfusion scan, the injection site on your arm will be cleaned and an elastic band will be placed around your upper arm. Then a small amount of the radioactive tracer is injected, usually into a vein on the inside of your elbow.
After the injection, the camera will start scanning for radiation released by the tracer and will produce pictures of its distribution in your lungs. The camera will be moved so your lungs can be viewed from other angles. You need to remain very still during the scans to avoid blurring the pictures.
The perfusion scan takes about 30 minutes.
