Bone scans are one radiological method that is used to examine the bones. During this procedure, a radioactive dye is injected into the veins. As the dye passes through it gives off a faint radioactive signal, which can be detected using a special scanner. The signal will be stronger in parts of the bone that are rapidly being broken down and built back up, and weaker in areas that are static (possibly due to poor circulation). Bone scans are used to identify bone metabolic problems, though they cannot diagnose the cause of the problem.
Step 1
Identify the bones in the scan. Sometimes a bone scan will have a short note at the top that will give an indication of what part of the body is represents. If there is no such label, you will have to identify the bones from their shape (consult an anatomy atlas if necessary) or by looking at the "shadow" of surrounding tissues and organs (often the other organs and flesh will create a faint signal on the scan).
Step 2
Identify the orientation and time of the scan. In many cases, multiple bone scans are taken over time to get a sense of how the radioactive dye is getting to the bones. Knowing when the dye was injected and when the scan was taken can be important for interpreting the scan. It is also important to know which side of the scan is the patient's left or right side, since scans can be taken from the front or the rear of the patient.
Step 3
Look for areas of high, medium and low signal. The radioactive dye that is used for a bone scan will create areas of brightness on the bone. More brightness indicates increased bone breakdown and rebuilding (turnover). Most of the bone will be gray, but some spots may be much brighter (white) or darker (black or no signal), which can indicate unusual bone turnover.
Things You'll Need
- Anatomy atlas (optional)
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