Chest Scan at Astra Radiology provides lung cancer screening. Chest Scan combines the expert radiologists, resources, and technology available at Astra Radiology. Specialising in the early detection of lung cancers and diseases, the Chest Scan programme at Astra Radiology helps to ensure early detection and speed to treatment outcomes.

With a team of highly trained radiologists specialised in chest, Chest Scan ensures expert interpretation and precise screening, enhancing accuracy, efficiency, timely and reliable results.

A low-dose chest CT (LDCT) for lung cancer screening is a specialised imaging test that uses a lower amount of radiation than typical CT scans yet still creates highly detailed screening images of the lungs.

The low-dose chest CT offered by Astra Radiology partners:

• Provides detailed screening images using minimal radiation
• Specifically designed to detect lung cancers at the early stages
• Uses the lowest possible radiation dose
• Quick, easy, and minimally invasive
• Produces high-quality screening images to give you and your doctor the most accurate results

Lung cancer screening uses a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan to look for early signs of lung cancer, often before symptoms appear. Screening works best when it is offered to the people most likely to benefit – those with the highest chance of developing lung cancer. Your risk category is based on your age, smoking history, family history, and in some cases your ethnicity, because population data shows some groups carry a higher burden of lung cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand.

You may benefit from Chest Scan screening if you:

• Are aged 50 years or older (or 40 years or older for Māori and Pacifica)
• Currently smoke or have smoked in the past
• Have a strong family history of lung cancer
• Have other risk factors that increase your lung cancer risk like ethnicity.

If you are unsure, please speak to your GP.

Lung cancer risk is influenced by several factors, including age, smoking history, family history, and certain medical conditions. Māori experience a disproportionately high burden of lung cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand and are often diagnosed at a younger age than non-Māori.** Your doctor may consider these and other risk factors when discussing whether screening is appropriate for you. 

A pack-year is a way to measure the number of cigarettes a person has smoked.

Pack-years are calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked.

• 1 pack each day for 1 year = 1 pack year
• 2 packs each day for 6 months = 1 pack year

Please check with your insurance provider for cover.  There is currently no public funding available, and you may need to pay for the scan.