Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2015 Issue 6
Get to Know the VQ Scan Specifics
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Article Overview
This article explains the basics of ventilation/perfusion (VQ) lung scanning and its role in evaluating pulmonary blood flow and airflow. It is aimed at readers who want a high-level understanding of the test’s purpose, common indications, and the general components of the study.
Why This Topic Matters
VQ scanning is a common nuclear medicine study used in pulmonary evaluation, so understanding what it assesses helps coding, clinical, and administrative staff recognize when the service is relevant and how the procedure is generally structured.
What You Will Learn
- What a ventilation/perfusion lung scan evaluates
- How the ventilation and perfusion portions of the study differ at a high level
- Common clinical reasons a VQ scan may be ordered
- How the scan may be performed as separate components or as a combined study
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Pulmonology staff
- Nuclear medicine staff
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