Duration of the CT examination | CT of the lungs

Duration of the CT examination

The CT examination is a simple and fast imaging diagnostic procedure. For this reason it is often preferred to the MRT examination. Especially in emergency situations, the significantly faster performance of a computer tomography is indicated.

Depending on the issue at hand, a CT thorax to examine the lungs takes between 5 and 30 minutes. Usually the duration is about 10 to 20 minutes. However, the administration of a contrast medium can extend the imaging time by a few minutes.

Radiation exposure during a CT thorax

In computed tomography, imaging is performed with the help of X-rays that are harmful to humans. Compared to conventional X-ray diagnostics, the patient is exposed to significantly higher radiation doses during the CT examination. However, the risk of damage to health from this radiation exposure is low.

The further development of CT equipment has made it possible to reduce the radiation dose and increasingly shorten the duration of the examination. The exact radiation exposure of an examination depends on the number and thickness of the tomographic image and the structure of the tissue to be examined. The average radiation exposure for a CT thorax is approximately 6 to 10 milli-Sievert (mSv). In comparison, the average annual radiation exposure for people living in Germany is 2.1 mSv.

Cost of a CT of the lungs

The costs of a CT examination of the lungs are covered by the statutory health insurance companies in the case of clinically indicated questions in patients with statutory health insurance. The price for CT imaging in the neck and/or thorax area for self-pay patients and private patients is €241.31 according to the German scale of fees for physicians (). The total costs can be a little higher due to a preliminary consultation and a possible debriefing.