About Bone Scans
Good bone health is important to prevent diseases like osteoporosis as well as dangerous broken hips and other bones. To get a good reading of bone health, a bone scan may be ordered. This diagnostic test can help to spot health conditions like tumors, arthritis, infections in the bone and the cause of bone pain that can't be determined. A bone scan is commonly ordered in cancer patients to see if the cancer has spread to the bones, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Injection of Radioactive Dye
The first step in a bone scan is the injection of what's called a tracer--a radioactive material that makes bone images easier to see. This radioactive dye is typically injected into the arm, where it travels through the body via the bloodstream and penetrates the bones. Typically it takes around two to four hours for the dye to be fully absorbed before the next portion of the bone scan can begin.
Imaging
Next, pictures need to be taken of the bones using a scanning device. The person being tested lies flat on a table, and a scanning machine/camera moves down the body and records pictures of the bones. A bone scan can last up to an hour for the whole body--less for only a section of the body. The camera measures how much of the radioactive material was absorbed by the bones, and it looks for any abnormalities that indicate health problems. Sometimes multiple images will need to be taken at various intervals.
After the Test
The test doesn't cause any pain or discomfort aside from a slight sting due to the needle inserting the dye. There are generally no side effects or problems after the test, and you can resume your normal activities. You may be asked to drink extra fluids that day to help flush the radioactive dye from your system.
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