Bone scan how is it done

Depending on the reason for the bone scan, your doctor may begin imaging immediately. After enough time has passed, your doctor will use a special camera to scan the bones.

The damaged areas — where the substance has settled — appear as dark spots on the image. This is similar to a bone scan, except the imaging process creates 3-D images of your bones. Test results are considered normal when the radioactive substance is spread evenly throughout the body. Hot spots describe places where an excess of radioactive substance has collected. Abnormal results can indicate that you have a bone disorder, such as cancer or arthritis or infection in the bone.

Most of the radioactive tracer is eliminated from your body within 24 hours. Small amounts may remain for as long as three days. You may have to undergo more tests if the bone scan showed abnormalities. Your doctor will explain your options and help guide you through the process. Flat bones are a specific type of bone found throughout your body. Your cranial bones are eight bones that make up your cranium, or skull, which supports your face and protects your brain.

Your bones provide many essential functions for your body such as producing new blood cells, protecting your internal organs, allowing you to move…. Massaging your piriformis muscle may help loosen the muscle and reduce pressure on your sciatic nerve. If the result shows change or damage to your bones, you may need more tests. These tests may include other types of bone scans. A computed tomography CT scan and a positron-emission tomography PET scan can be done following a bone scan.

Further testing may also include a magnetic resonance imaging MRI , or a biopsy. A specially trained and certified nuclear medicine technologist performs the test. A nuclear medicine physician is a medical doctor who uses tracers to diagnose and treat disease. A radiologist or a nuclear medicine physician oversees the technologist. A radiologist is a medical doctor who uses imaging tests to diagnose disease.

One of these doctors will read your scan and decide what it means. When you schedule your bone scan, the hospital or imaging center staff will tell you how to prepare. Usually, you do not need much special preparation before a bone scan, but it's important to confirm this with the place giving you the test. If anything is unclear in the instructions, talk with your health care team. Here are some things that you can expect: What to eat. You can typically eat and drink normally before your appointment.

Your usual medications. Tell your health care team about all medications you take, including over the counter OTC drugs and supplements. Medicines that contain barium or bismuth can affect the test results. Your doctor may ask you not to take them before your scan.

Personal medical history. Tell the staff if you have any drug allergies or medical conditions. Women should tell their health care team if they are breastfeeding or may be pregnant. A bone scan uses small amounts of radioactive materials radiotracers and a computer to create an image of the skeleton. The image shows changes or abnormalities in bones. A bone scan is also called bone scintigraphy. A bone scan helps doctors diagnose and evaluate different bone diseases and conditions.

It may be done to: find bone cancer or determine if cancer from another area has spread to the bone help diagnose the cause or site of unexplained bone pain help diagnose broken bones that are not clear on an x-ray see how far the cancer has spread find damage to the bones caused by infection or other bone conditions find out if cancer treatment is working or as part of follow-up.

A bone scan is usually done as an outpatient procedure in the nuclear medicine department of a hospital. Special preparation is not usually needed. If you are breastfeeding, are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, tell the doctor or staff in the nuclear medicine department before the scan.

You will be asked to wear clothing that has no metal zippers, belts or buttons. You will be asked to remove your glasses, jewellery and most or all of your clothes. You will be given a cloth or paper gown to wear for the test.

Your arm will be cleaned and a small amount of a radiotracer will be injected. The radiotracer travels through your blood to the bones and organs.

It takes about 3 to 4 hours for it to collect in your bones. An intravenous IV line will be started in the hand or arm for injection of the tracer. The tracer will be injected into your vein. The tracer will be allowed to concentrate in the bone tissue for a period of one to three hours. You may be allowed to walk around or even leave the facility during this time. You will not be hazardous to other people, as the tracer emits less radiation than a standard X-ray. During the waiting period, you will need to drink several glasses of water four to six glasses to help flush out any tracer that does not concentrate into the bone tissue.

If your bone scan is being done to detect bone infection, a set of scans may be done immediately after the injection of the tracer. Another set of scans will be done after the tracer has been allowed to concentrate in the bone tissue. When the tracer has been allowed to concentrate in the bone tissue for the appropriate amount of time, you will be asked to empty your bladder prior to the start of the scan.

A full bladder can distort the bones of the pelvis, and may become uncomfortable during the scan, which may take up to an hour to complete. You will be asked to lie still on a scanning table, as any movement may affect the quality of the scan. The scanner will move slowly over you several times as it detects the gamma rays emitted by the tracer in the bone tissue.

You may be repositioned during the scan in order to obtain particular views of the bones. While the bone scan itself causes no pain, having to lie still for the length of the procedure might cause some discomfort or pain, particularly in the case of a recent injury or invasive procedure such as surgery. The technologist will use all possible comfort measures and complete the procedure as quickly as possible to minimize any discomfort or pain.

You should move slowly when getting up from the scanner table to avoid any dizziness or lightheadedness from lying flat for the length of the procedure. You will be instructed to drink plenty of fluids and empty your bladder frequently for 24 to 48 hours after the procedure to help flush the remaining tracer from your body.

The IV site will be checked for any signs of redness or swelling.