Shopping Cart (0 items for $0.00)
Sign Up Now ForBone Scan
- What is the test?
- How do I prepare for the test?
- What happens when the test is performed?
- What risks are there from the test?
- Must I do anything special after the test is over?
- How long is it before the result of the test is known?
What is the test?
This is a nuclear scan, also called a radionuclide scan. In a bone scan, a radioactive tracer accumulates in places in your bones with a lot of repair activity. In this way, the tracer is used to identify areas that might be injured due to a fracture, bone infection, arthritis, or invading cancer. The tracer gives off gamma rays, which can be detected using a specialized camera. The camera relays information to a computer to produce images of the bones being scanned. In the images, bright spots appear in the areas where the tracer has collected. Bone scans are most frequently done for people with cancer to see if the cancer has spread to bones.
How do I prepare for the test?
Tell your doctor if you might be pregnant.
What happens when the test is performed?
The test is performed in the radiology department of a hospital. You will be given a radionuclide. A machine with a specialized camera moves around you. The procedure is painless, but the machine can be noisy. The scan usually takes less than an hour.
What risks are there from the test?
The radioactivity you are exposed to is too small to cause side effects or complications except to a fetus. The small amount of radioactivity rapidly diminishes.
Must I do anything special after the test is over?
No.
How long is it before the result of the test is known?
Results are usually available within a few days.