A bone scan is an imaging test that shows areas of increased or decreased bone turnover (metabolism).
Alternative NamesScintigraphy - bone
How the test is performedA bone scan involves injecting a radioactive material (radiotracer) into a vein. The substance travels through the bloodstream to the bones and organs. As it wears away, it gives off radiation. This radiation is detected by a camera that slowly scans your body. The camera takes pictures of how much radiotracer collects in the bones.
If a bone scan is done to see if you have a bone infection, images may be taken shortly after the radioactive material is injected and again 3 to 4 hours later, when it has collected in the bones. This is called a 3-phase bone scan.
To evaluate metastatic bone disease, images are taken only after the 3 to 4 hour delay.
The scanning part of the test will last about 1 hour. The scanner's camera may move above and around you. You may need to change positions.
You will probably be asked to drink extra water after you receive the radiotracer to keep the material from collecting in your bladder.
How to prepare for the testYou must remove jewelry and other metal objects. You may be asked to wear a hospital gown.
Tell your doctor if you are or may be pregnant.
Do not take any medicine with bismuth in it, such as Pepto-Bismol, for 4 days before the test.
How the test will feelThere is a small amount of pain when the needle is inserted. During the scan there is no pain. You must remain still during the examination, and you will be instructed when to change positions by the technologist.
You may experience some discomfort due to lying still for a prolonged period of time.
Why the test is performedA bone scan is used to:
Test results are considered normal if the radiotracer moves evenly throughout all the bones in your body.
What abnormal results meanThe images should show that the radioactive material has been evenly distributed throughout the body. There should be no areas of increased or decreased distribution. "Hot spots" are areas where there is an increased accumulation of the radioactive material. "Cold spots" are areas that have taken up less of the radioactive material.
What the risks areIf you are pregnant or nursing, the test may be postponed to prevent exposing the developing baby to radiation. If you must have the test while breastfeeding, you should pump and throw away the breast milk for the next 2 days.
The amount of radiation injected into your vein is very small, and nearly all radiation is gone from the body within 2 - 3 days. The radiotracer that is used exposes you to a very small amount of radiation. The risk is probably no greater than with routine or conventional x-rays.
Risks related to the bone radiotracer are rare, but may include:
There is a slight risk of infection or bleeding when the needle is inserted into a vein.
Special considerationsSome abnormalities that may be identified on radionuclide bone scans include:
It is important to understand that bone scan findings must be compared with other imaging studies, in addition to clinical information. You should always discuss the significance of abnormal findings with your health care provider.
ReferencesRobert E. Coleman, Ingunn Holen, Bone metastases. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG, eds. Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 57
Baker LH. Bone tumors: primary and metastatic bone lesions. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 212.
A bone scan is an imaging test that shows areas of increased or decreased bone turnover (metabolism).
Alternative NamesScintigraphy - bone
How the test is performedA bone scan involves injecting a radioactive material (radiotracer) into a vein. The substance travels through your blood to the bones and organs. As it wears off, it gives off a little bit of radiation. This radiation is detected by a camera that slowly scans your body. The camera takes pictures of how much radiotracer collects in the bones.
If a bone scan is done to see if you have a bone infection, images may be taken shortly after the radioactive material is injected and again 3 to 4 hours later, when it has collected in the bones. This is called a 3-phase bone scan.
To evaluate metastatic bone disease, images are taken only after the 3 to 4 hour delay.
The scanning part of the test will last about 1 hour. The scanner's camera may move above and around you. You may need to change positions.
You will probably be asked to drink extra water after you receive the radiotracer to keep the material from collecting in your bladder.
How to prepare for the testYou must remove jewelry and other metal objects. You may be asked to wear a hospital gown.
Tell your doctor if you are or may be pregnant.
Do not take any medicine with bismuth in it, such as Pepto-Bismol, for 4 days before the test.
How the test will feelThere is a small amount of pain when the needle is inserted. During the scan there is no pain. You must remain still during the examination, and you will be instructed when to change positions by the technologist.
You may experience some discomfort due to lying still for a prolonged period of time.
Why the test is performedA bone scan is used to:
Test results are considered normal if the radiotracer moves evenly throughout all the bones in your body.
What abnormal results meanThe images should show that the radioactive material has been evenly distributed throughout the body. There should be no areas of increased or decreased distribution. "Hot spots" are areas where there is an increased accumulation of the radioactive material. "Cold spots" are areas that have taken up less of the radioactive material.
What the risks areIf you are pregnant or nursing, the test may be postponed to prevent exposing the developing baby to radiation. If you must have the test while breastfeeding, you should pump and throw away the breast milk for the next 2 days.
The amount of radiation injected into your vein is very small, and nearly all radiation is gone from the body within 2 - 3 days. The radiotracer that is used exposes you to a very small amount of radiation. The risk is probably no greater than with routine or conventional x-rays.
Risks related to the bone radiotracer are rare, but may include:
There is a slight risk of infection or bleeding when the needle is inserted into a vein.
Special considerationsSome abnormalities that may be identified on radionuclide bone scans include:
It is important to understand that bone scan findings must be compared with other imaging studies, in addition to clinical information. You should always discuss the significance of abnormal findings with your health care provider.
ReferencesColeman RE, Holen I. Bone metastases. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG, eds. Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 57
Lerner A, Antman KH. Primary and metastatic malignant bone lesions.In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds.Cecil Medicine. 24th ed.Philadelphia,PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 208.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 12/06/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
If you are getting a bone scan there could be a few reasons. they could be looking for osteoarthritis, arthritis, fracture, bone cancer , or metastatic cancer.
There is metabolic activity in the bone at levels expected through normal (physiologic) processes.
Scanned is the past tense of scan.
The energy production of the sun.The energy production in nuclear reactors.
It is a scan of your PC. Jawn Wawoniss says so
Yes, but bone scan has to be completed first.
No, a bone scan shows bone metabolism.
A bone scan, or x-ray is simply a different type of scan than an MRI. No kind of scan is better than another, it simply depends what the scan is trying to ascertain.
A bone scan can show if a bone is healthy or if it is losing strength and density by becoming porous.
If you are getting a bone scan there could be a few reasons. they could be looking for osteoarthritis, arthritis, fracture, bone cancer , or metastatic cancer.
I got a full body bone scan and it costed around 4,000, give or take.
CAT scan after bone removal can not be seen by a surgeon or radioligist. Is this possible?
Bone density
In X-ray or CT scan as crack in the surface of bone.
bone density test
yes they do
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