A bone scan is a test used to detect arthritis or other degenerative bone diseases, avascular necrosis, bone infections, bone tumors, fibrous dysplasia, fractures, Paget's disease, rickets or metastatic tumors, according to Medline Plus. Your doctor or CT tech will inject a radioactive dye into a vein. This dye then spreads to bone, where it then emits a radioactive signal depending on the metabolic activity of bone. The CT camera detects this radioactive signal and converts this signal into an image that can be read by you and your doctor. Follow these general guidelines to view a CT bone scan.
Step 1
Look at the label on the image and check the name to make sure it is your bone scan. Examine the date to make sure it is your most current bone scan.
Step 2
Look at the entire skeleton for darker "hot spots," which are areas of increased accumulation of radioactive material, according to the Mayo Clinic. Concentrate on areas that are giving you the most pain or discomfort
Step 3
Look at the entire skeleton for lighter "cold spots," which are areas than have not taken up much radioactive material, according to the Mayo Clinic. Take extra time to look at the areas of bone that are causing you pain or discomfort.
Step 4
Discuss abnormal results, prognosis and treatment plans with your doctor.
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