Whole-Body Bone Scintigraphy
Nuclear medicine study for detecting bone turnover, metastases, and fractures.
What is Bone Scan?
Bone scan uses IV technetium-99m labeled diphosphonate to localize areas of increased osteoblastic activity.
How it works: After tracer injection and uptake, a gamma camera acquires whole-body images highlighting hot spots.
Common Uses of Bone Scan
Bone metastasis survey
Sensitive for osteoblastic mets (e.g., prostate, breast).
Occult or stress fractures
Detects fractures not seen on X-ray.
Infection or hardware loosening
Assesses osteomyelitis or prosthesis issues with 3-phase study.
Advantages
- ✓Whole-body coverage
- ✓High sensitivity for many bone processes
- ✓Relatively low cost vs PET
Limitations
- ⚠Low specificity—requires correlation with CT/MRI
- ⚠Radiation exposure
- ⚠False positives with arthritis/trauma
Preparation & What to Expect
Before the Exam
Hydrate and empty bladder; remove metal over imaged areas.
During the Exam
Wait 2-4 hours after injection before scanning; minimal discomfort.
After the Exam
Drink water to flush tracer; radioactivity decays quickly.
Related Imaging Methods
Correlate hotspots with CT/MRI; PET-CT may be used for lytic lesions.
CT
CT scans use X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body. They are particularly useful for detecting bone fractures, tumors, and internal bleeding.
MRI
MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of organs and soft tissues. Excellent for brain, spine, and joint imaging.
PET-CT
Combines metabolic imaging with CT anatomy for cancer staging and therapy response.
Browse Bone Scan Terms
Explore common findings and terminology in Bone Scan reports. Each term includes detailed explanations, clinical significance, and related lab tests to help you understand your imaging results. lab tests.
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