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Bone Scan

Bone scans are used to detect diseases of the bone at the earliest possible time.  Bone scans are often more sensitive than X-rays in diagnosing infections, tumors and fractures.

Preparation:  No special preparation is required for the bone scan.  You will be asked to drink fluids during the two hours between the injection and scan and to empty your bladder frequently.  This helps clear the injected material from your soft tissue and improves the quality of the bone scan.

Procedure:  You will receive an injection of a radioactive substance in a vein in your arm.  This material travels through the bloodstream, into the soft tissue, eventually localizing in the bones.  You will not feel anything from this injection.  Images may be taken during the injections to evaluate the blood flow to a particular area where you may be experiencing pain.

The bone scan will be performed two hours after injection.  The scan takes 30 to 60 minutes.  You will be asked to lie on your back on an imaging table.  The camera will be positioned above and below you.  The camera will scan the entire length of your body starting at your head and moving slowly to your feet.

A SPECT study may be done to look at a particular area of your body in detail.  The SPECT study involves computerized tomography using a gamma camera.  It will involve an additional 30 minutes of imaging while the camera rotates 360 degrees around you.  In some instances, X-rays may be needed to clarify bone scan findings.

The radiologists will evaluate the images and send a report to your physician, who will explain the results to you.

Nuclear medicine procedures are very safe.  The radioactive material is quickly cleared from your body.  The radiation dose from this test is similar to most routine X-ray procedures.