| name: | Bone Scan |
| also see: | Osteomyelitis; Spinal Cord Tumor; Lymphoma; Foot Stress Fracture; Leg Stress Fracture; ICD |
| description: | A bone scan involves injecting a special chemical such as technetium-99 which is slowly taken up by normal bone in an even distribution. An area of bone pathology usually takes up the technetium-99 quickly and will appear as a "hot spot" on the scan. Such pathologies as bone infection, fracture, tumor will likely appear hot. |
| diagnosis: | Bone scans are commonly used in the evaluation of such illnesses as osteomyelitis, spinal cord tumor, lymphoma, foot stress fracture, leg stress fracture, scaphoid fracture of the wrist, and in evaluation of bone pain or possible metastatic cancer from somewhere else in the body to the bone, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer. |
| treatment: | The person receives an injection of technetium-99 and is asked to return to the radiology department 2-3 hours later for the actual scan. It takes several hours for the bone to take-up the technetium-99. The person lays on a table and a special machine called a gamma camera records the radionucleotide emission and computes a pattern. A hot spot indicates an area of abnormal up-take. |
| outcome: | Other than drink plenty of water, special care after the procedure is not required. |
Last updated 11/8/2008