The pulmonologic investigation program includes:
- Appointment with a physician (medical history, differential diagnosis, the creation of individual screening program)
- Total and specialized spirometry (measures the lung volumes by breathing into a machine)
- BGA – test (arterial blood measurement)
- Diagnosis of respiratory rate, chest wall movement
- Identification of infectious agents using specialized blood tests (some bird types)
- Exposure to toxins (asbestos, tobacco smoke, coal mining fumes)
- Diagnosis of hereditary diseases like cystic fibrosis
- Diagnosis of autoimmune diathesis that can predispose to lung diseases ( pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis)
- Chest X-ray
- Bronchoscopy (visualization of airways inside)
- Bronchography – radiological technique which is rarely used to diagnose bronchial carcinoma, tuberculosis and other bronchopulmonary diseases
- Positron emission tomography (PET) especially in case of lung cancer
- Laboratory blood tests (e.g. arterial blood gas measurements)
- CT scanning (MRI scanning is rarely used)
- Scintigraphy and other methods of nuclear medicine
- Polysomnography (sleep studies) usually applied for the diagnosis of Sleep apnea
- Final consultation includes discussing diagnosis results and further therapy
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