Bone Scan

How to Read a Bone Scan

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...

Define a Bone Scan

A bone scan is an imaging test used to look for abnormalities in your bone. According to the Mayo Clinic, this painless test requires no preparation.

What Is a Bone Scan Like?

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...

How Is a Bone Scan Performed?

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...

Abnormal Bone Scan

Bone scans are ordered by physicians for a variety of reasons including pain of undetermined origin. There are many conditions that will result in an abnormal finding on a bone scan. Scan results may confirm or rule out clinical suspicions, but...

Bone Scan Dangers

Bone scans test for a variety of skeletal conditions, including fractures, infections, unexplained pain, arthritis, tumors, Paget's disease--chronic inflammation of the bones--and death of the bone tissue, according to St. John Providence Health...

How to View a CT Bone Scan

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...

What Is a Three Phase Bone Scan?

According to the University of Texas Medical Center, a three-phase bone scan is a medical procedure used to detect whether you have osteomyelitis (an inflammation of your bone including its bone marrow).

How to Understand the Results of a Bone Scan

Bone scans are a radiologic procedure that can be used to measure bone metabolism. Bone metabolism describes the process by which bones are broken down and then reformed. Various diseases can cause disorders in bone metabolism, including...

Side Effects of a Bone Scan

Bone scans serve several medical diagnostic purposes, according to Drugs.com. They can diagnose bone tumors or cancer, detect if a patient's cancer has spread, diagnose bone fractures and bone infections, determine the source of bone pain, and...

Abnormal Bone Scan Results

A bone scan is a nuclear imaging test physicians use to look for areas of increased or decreased bone metabolism. Physicians often use this study in conjunction with other tests to diagnose bone infections, cancer or other degenerative bone diseases.

Bone Scan Diagnosis

We have all heard of the older woman rolling out of bed and breaking her hip, which is often the beginning of a series of health challenges and even death. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, this abnormal fragility of bone, called...

Signs of an Abnormal Bone Scan

A bone scan, sometimes called bone scintigraphy, is a test performed to identify areas of increased, often abnormal, mineral activity of the skeleton. A radioactive chemical is injected into the bloodstream and x-rays are performed several hours...

How to Read a 3 Phase Bone Scan

The bones in our body are in a constant state of flux. They are continually being broken down (by cells called osteoclasts) and rebuilt (by osteoblasts). Some disorders, such as inflammation of the bones, blood clots and cancer can cause changes...

Bone Scan Vs. MRI

At one time doctors relied heavily on plain films or x-rays for information concerning the inner workings of the body. Today more sophisticated equipment reveals far more about the body's interior and uses less harmful methods. Tests such as the...

What Are Normal & Abnormal Bone Scan Results?

A bone scan, also known as a scintigraphy, is a nuclear imaging test that evaluates bone cell function. According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, a bone scan involves injecting a radioactive material, called...

CT Scan Vs. Nuclear Bone Scan

A computerized tomagraphy (CT) scan and nuclear bone scan are both radiological procedures used to visualize different parts of the body for disease and disorder detection. A CT scan is a type of X-ray, while a bone scan is more invasive than an...

How to Prepare for a Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan

A bone scan is a noninvasive test commonly given to evaluate a variety of bone-related problems, including osteoporosis, arthritis, bone pain and bone cancer. The test involves the injection of a radioactive tracer into the bloodstream that...

What Is the Difference Between a Cat Scan & a Bone Scan?

A doctor might order a type of scan to help diagnose an internal problem. As described by the American College of Radiology and the Radiologic Society of North America, Computerized Axial Tomography, also known as a CAT or CT scan, combines X-rays...

Vitamin C and Zinc After Bone Scan

Doctors order bone scans to rule out bone health problems. Some bone disorders can be quite serious, and some of the chemical therapies for bone disease can have a negative impact on your body's ability to maintain a strong immune system. Vitamin...

About Bone Scans

A bone scan may be ordered by a doctor to diagnose or investigate specific bone diseases. Since it is more sensitive than an X-ray, a bone scan may be able to detect problems that other tests may not. Because a bone scan involves radioactive...

How to Read Bone Scans

A bone scan is a radiologic technique in which a small amount of a radioactive chemical, also known as a tracer, is injected into the veins. This tracer is used to help visualize how fast bones are being broken down and reformed. The radioactive...

Bone Scans in Children

Pediatric bone scans are used to identify and diagnose bone diseases and disorders in children that do not typically show up on typical X-rays. Bone scans are performed on children who present to the doctor with growth retardation, bone pain or...

Bone Density Scan & Calcium Supplements

Your bones are made of calcium and other minerals important for bone strength. Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones, causing them to break more easily. Osteoporosis typically progresses as you get older and catching it early allows for...

What Is a Bone Age Density Scan?

A bone age scan, commonly referred to as a bone mineral density test or DEXA scan, is a test that helps physicians predict the likelihood of a person developing a bone disorder in the future. This test is often confused with a bone scan, which is...

Types of Nuclear Medicine Scans

According to the National Institutes of Health, "nuclear scanning uses radioactive substances to see structures and functions inside [the patient's] body. Nuclear scans involve a special camera that detects energy coming from the radioactive...

What Are the Steps in Doing a Bone Density Test?

Osteoporosis is a condition in which patients lose some of the mineral in their bones. This decreased bone mass can lead to the bones becoming brittle and fracturing more easily. If caught early, the effects of osteoporosis can be minimized. One...

How to Improve Joint Health Without Supplements or Medicine

Joints help us bend, lift, walk and run. Joints support our bodies and enable us to twist, hop and reach. If a joint is not working properly, range of motion, strength and even mobility may be affected. Keeping your joints healthy or improving the...

How to Treat Stress Fractures (Video)

Stress fracture treatments and healing methods include rest, stretching and wearing certain equipment. Learn how to treat sports injuries in this video on health and rehab.

Osteoporosis Health Video (Video)

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to weak bones and an increased risk of fracture. Learn more about osteoporosis in this obstetrics video.

Bone Cancer Health Video (Video)

Bone cancer most often refers to a presence of malignant tumors in bone tissue. Learn about bone cancer and treatment options in this video.

Bladder Cancer Health Video (Video)

Bladder cancer can refer to any number of cancerous growths in the urinary bladder. Learn about bladder cancer and treatment options in this video.

Bone Infection Health Video (Video)

Bone infections are caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics, get expert tips and advice on medical treatments in this video.