Ventilation-Perfusion Scan

Background

A pulmonary ventilation-perfusion scan (V/Q scan) is a nuclear medicine scan that uses radioactive material to examine air flow (ventilation) and blood flow (perfusion) through the lungs. In respiratory physiology, Q is the letter to describe blood flow, hence the name V/Q scan. The V/Q scan may also be referred to as lung scintigraphy since a gamma camera is used to acquire images.