V/Q scan
Medical abbreviation · Medical Imaging
| Stands for | Ventilation-perfusion scan |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
V/Q scan stands for Ventilation-perfusion scan, a medical imaging abbreviation.
Nuclear medicine study comparing airflow and blood flow in the lungs: the perfusion part uses injected technetium-labeled macroaggregated albumin, and the ventilation part an inhaled radioactive gas or aerosol. Regions that are ventilated but not perfused suggest pulmonary embolism.
Example: V/Q scan: multiple mismatched segmental perfusion defects, high probability for PE.
Usage notes
Preferred over CT pulmonary angiography in pregnancy, severe kidney disease and contrast allergy, and most informative when the chest X-ray is normal. Results were classically graded into probability categories from the PIOPED study. It is also used to evaluate chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and to predict lung function before lung resection. Written V/Q or VQ.
Related abbreviations
More medical imaging abbreviations
- ADC – Apparent diffusion coefficient
- ALARA – As low as reasonably achievable
- AP – Anteroposterior
- AXR – Abdominal X-ray
- BI-RADS – Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System
- BMD – Bone mineral density
- CBCT – Cone-beam computed tomography
- CECT – Contrast-enhanced computed tomography
- CIN – Contrast-induced nephropathy
- CT – Computed tomography
- CTA – Computed tomography angiography
- CTH – Computed tomography of the head
See all 58 medical imaging abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.