A member asked:

Nuclear bone scan: can pepto bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) cause false positive results? false negative results? how likely @ just normal dose pepto (~1000 mg over 2 hours)?

5 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Dr. Edgar Mendizabal answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

No: The contrast is intravenous and is not interfered by ingested medications.

Answered 6/16/2017

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Dr. Bruce J. Stringer answered

Specializes in Radiology

Yes: Pepto bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) contains bismuth which can block the gamma ray photons which form the bone scan image. As a result bones of the lumbar spine or pelvis can show areas of diminished activity (cold spots) on images acquired from the front (anterior) due to bismuth in the bowel. Routine instructions advise against taking pepto bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) for a week before the bone scan.

Answered 11/28/2017

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Dr. Gerald Mandell answered

Specializes in Nuclear Medicine

can interfere: Do not take any medications with bismuth, such as pepto-bismol, for four days before the scheduled scan.Barium and bismuth can interfere with test results.These metals interfere with results of scan by absorbing some of gamma rays from radio tracer causing artifacts.

Answered 10/25/2013

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