A bone scan is a type of noninvasive diagnostic test. The test involves injecting radioactive material into the patient and using a special x-ray machine to take images of the bones. The procedure takes several hours, but is not painful. A bone scan can provide more in depth information than a regular x-ray because it can also show cell activity and metabolism in the bones.
Indications
A bone scan may be needed if changes in the bones are suspected and a regular x-ray does not provide enough information to make a diagnosis. If a patient has unexplained bone pain, a scan may help identify a problem. It can also be done to check for bone loss or infection. A bone scan may also be ordered for people who have cancer to determine if it has spread to the bones.
Procedure
Radioactive material will be injected into a vein, and images are taken immediately. They may also be taken again after five minutes. Patients are than allowed to leave for 3 to 4 hours. This allows the radioactive material time to travel through the bloodstream and collect in the bones. The patient returns and has images taken a third time. During the third phase, it takes about an hour for the images to be taken.
Risks
There is minimal radiation used during a bone scan; therefore, the risk is similar to a conventional x-ray, according to MedlinePlus. Women who may be pregnant or are already know they are pregnant should let their doctors know before undergoing a bone scan. After the injection of the radioactive material, a patient may be instructed to drink plenty of water to prevent the radioactive material from accumulating in the bladder. Very rarely, the radioactive material causes symptoms of an allergic reaction such as a rash and swelling.
Considerations
Although no special preparation is needed before a bone scan, it may be helpful for patients to understand what will happen. This may be especially true for children. Patients will be expected to lie still for several minutes at a time as the camera records images. They may also need to change positions several times to help collect images from different angles.
Results
The radioactive material should move through the bones and be distributed equally. If there is more radioactive material or less material in an area of bone, it is considered an abnormal result, according to MedlinePlus. The abnormalities are categorized as cold or hot spots. Hot spots mean there is increased radioactive material in a certain area of the bone and cold spots means there is less.
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