CT Thorax
CTVaries
EDInpatientOutpatient
All imaging requests must be justified by an IR(ME)R practitioner (radiologist or radiographer)Lung cancer (NG122)
— ANY of the following
- Contrast-enhanced CT chest/liver/adrenals/lower neck for known/suspected lung cancer BEFORE biopsyNICE NG122
- PET-CT for staging in curative-intent candidatesNICE NG122
- MRI brain for stage IIIA NSCLC with curative intentNICE NG122
Lung cancer screening
— Information section — LDCT for eligible patients via NHS TLHC programme
- LDCT for current/former smokers 55–74 at high risk (NHS TLHC)
- Dose ~0.5–1.5 mSv
HRCT for ILD
— ANY of the following
- HRCT essential in IPF diagnostic pathwayNICE CG163; ATS/ERS 2022
- Definite UIP pattern has 90–100% PPV for histological UIP
CT chest major trauma
— ANY of the following
- Whole-body CT for adults with blunt major traumaNICE NG39 Rec 1.5.34
- Do NOT routinely use for children <16NICE NG39 Rec 1.4.7
Post-surgical
— ANY of the following
- CT thorax for any suspected post-operative complication
Notes
Removed
Previous >40 years age restriction removed
Information
For suspected PE, use CTPA protocol
Information
LDCT lung screening ~0.5–1.5 mSv
Radiation Dose
CT thorax effective dose ~5–7 mSv. Low-dose CT (screening) ~0.5–1.5 mSv.
Paediatric
Do NOT routinely use whole-body CT for children <16 with major trauma (NG39 Rec 1.4.7)
Change Log
v1.02026-03-05Initial publication
v2.02026-03-08Lung cancer pathway (NG122), HRCT ILD, and lung screening sections added.