A bone scan is a test that detects areas of increased or decreased bone metabolism, turnover, which may indicate bone injury or disease. This is determined by looking at the distribution of radioactive isotopes, tracer chemicals, that collect in your bones after an injection.
All of the bones in the body are scanned.
The procedure is performed to detect an abnormal process involving your bone, including the following:
- Stress injuries such as stress fracture and shin splints
- Infection (osteomyelitis)
- Arthritis
- Bone tumors
- Cancer that has spread to the bone
- Trauma
-
Metabolic disorders such as
Paget’s Disease
- Nutritional disorders that can affect bone, such as osteomalacia or rickets
- Death of an area of bone tissues, due to blocked circulation (avascular necrosis)
No complications are expected from this procedure.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
Three hours before the scan, you will receive an injection of a radioactive tracer chemicals. You should drink plenty of fluids between the time of the injection and the scan. You will also be asked to empty your bladder before the scan.
First, remove jewelry and other metal objects, and change into a hospital gown. You will lie on your back on an imaging table. A camera above and below the scanning table will slowly scan from your head to your foot. You may be asked to move into various positions as the scan is performed, but you will lie still for most of the test.
No anesthesia is required.
Several pictures are taken of your body, using a special scanning camera. The camera detects small amounts of radioactivity in the injected technetium. This allows the doctor to see areas where there may be bone injury or disease.
After the bone scan, the injection site is checked for redness and swelling.
The scan is usually done 3 hours after the injection. The actual scan takes between 20 to 60 minutes.
Except for the mild discomfort of the injection, this test is painless.
Some people worry about having an injection of a slightly radioactive material. However, the amount of radioactivity is very small and is eliminated from the body within 2 to 3 days. Complications from a bone scan are rare.
In extremely rare cases, a person may develop a mild or severe allergic reaction to the injected material. There may also be a slight risk of infection from the injection, but the risk is no greater in this procedure than for any intravenous injection.
You will not need to stay in the hospital. A bone scan is an outpatient procedure.
No special care is required after the procedure.
If your bone tissue is healthy, your bone scan will show a uniform distribution of the injected radioactive material. If there is an area of disease, darker or lighter areas (hot or cold spots) will be evident on the bone scan. These reflect areas where there is abnormally active bone breakdown or repair.
The radiologist who reads the bone scan, often called a nuclear medicine doctor, is experienced at differentiating between changes that look like arthritis or other benign conditions, and those changes due to cancer. Sometimes, if the radiologist is not sure, he or she will recommend further tests including standard x-rays,
CT scans, or
MRI scans.
Although the bone scan is very effective at looking at the bones, sometimes bone pain is due to a process occurring next to the bones, but not directly in them. In this case, the bone scan will generally not be that effective and other types of testing (CT or MRI scans) would be more appropriate. This is a decision that your doctor will make to help determine the reason for your pain or change in symptoms.
Call your doctor if you have any questions about the procedure, your condition, or your test results.
Last reviewed November 2007 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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