Question 1

what's a bone scan for?

Accepted Answer

Cancer or pain: Usually in adults it is used to detect metastatic cancer. It also is frequently used to evaluate for possible stress fractures.

Question 2

how does abone scanwork?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive "dye": A bone scan is usually used to assess the whole skeleton for cancer spread, to look at specific bone sites for fracture or for bone infections.  The patient receives an injection of a radiolabeled substance that is mostly incorporated in to areas of high bone turnover.  A camera to detect the radioactive decay then acts to count the amount of activity.  Areas of high decay are more fully evaluated.

Question 3

what is a bone scan used for?

Accepted Answer

Cancer or pain: Usually in adults it is used to detect metastatic cancer. It also is frequently used to evaluate for possible stress fractures and other bone problems.

Question 4

what do bone scan results tell you?

Accepted Answer

Hot spot, cold spots: The radiologist looks for evidence of abnormal bone metabolism on the scans. These show up as darker "hot spots" and lighter "cold spots" where the tracers have or haven't accumulated.
 
Although a bone scan is very sensitive to abnormalities in bone metabolism, it's less helpful in determining the exact cause of the abnormality.

Question 5

what lights up in a normal bone scan?

Accepted Answer

The bones,: In a fashion similar to that of a skeleton. No areas of "hot spots" or "cold spots".

Question 6

what does a healthy bone scan look like?

Accepted Answer

normal uptake: Bone scan involves intravenous injection of radiotracer usually technetium 99m mdp which accumulates in skeleton. Scan may involve early phase(5-10 min) and late phase(2-3 hr) imaging. Increased uptake is seen in fractures, tumors, infection, etc. Decreased uptake is seen in metal artifacts, aggressive tumor/infection, & loss of blood supply to bones.No abnormal uptake in skeleton is normal.

Question 7

how can i convert bone scan t-scores to z-scores?

Accepted Answer

DEXA scores: You should not have to convert t scores to z scores when you receive your DEXA results, which report your bone density.  They are statistical terms that tell you where your one density is relative to age-matchednnormal data. Both values are given with the result.

Question 8

what are the processes involved during a bone scan?

Accepted Answer

Bone metabolism: Bone scan involves intravenous injection of radio tracer usually technetium 99m mdp which accumulates in skeleton. Scan may involve early phase(5-10 min) and late phase(2-3 hr) imaging. Increased uptake is seen in fractures, tumors, infection, etc. Decreased activity is seen in metal artifacts, aggressive tumor/infection, & loss of blood supply to bones. Bone scan very sensitive but not specific.

Question 9

what is the definition or description of: bone scan?

Accepted Answer

Isotope uptake: A radioactive isotope is injected IV & early & late (hrs) images r taken that read the concentration of the isotope in the bone. It's higher in areas of more activity of bone formation. It will light up in fractures, growth plates, infection, tumors, stress fx among others.

Question 10

what is the average time to have a bone scan completed?

Accepted Answer

About 3 1/2 hours: From the start and taking of initial pictures to the delayed uptake pictures.

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Bone scan

A member asked:

What's a bone scan for?

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How does abone scanwork?

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What is a bone scan used for?

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What do bone scan results tell you?

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What lights up in a normal bone scan?

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What does a healthy bone scan look like?

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How can i convert bone scan t-scores to z-scores?

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What are the processes involved during a bone scan?

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What is the definition or description of: bone scan?

A member asked:

What is the average time to have a bone scan completed?

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