Bone scan

A bone scan is used to detect fractures, infections, tumors or cancer tissue in the bones. No special preparation is necessary.

What is a bone scan?

Bone scans are noninvasive nuclear imaging tests used to find abnormalities in your bones. After a radioactive material has been injected into a blood vessel, any infections, broken bones, tumors or cancerous tissues will absorb different amounts of the material. After the bones have been given enough time to absorb the material, a special camera is used to take images so your doctor can find what they're looking for.

How is the bone scan performed?

The procedure begins with the injection of a small amount of radioactive material into the vein of your arm. You'll need to return two hours later for the scan.

When you return for the scan, you'll be asked to lie on a special table that allows us to take pictures of your whole body. The camera, which can detect radioactivity, will travel from your head to your toes, recording pictures. Nothing will touch you. The scanning process will take about 30 minutes. It's very important that you remain still during the bone scan.

Your doctor may order a special set of pictures called SPECT scan. For this set of pictures, the camera will be set up to travel in a circle around your whole body. Sometimes two different sets of SPECT scans are needed, depending on the areas being imaged.

Each set of SPECT scans will take about 30 minutes to complete. You should plan for your test to take about one hour and 30 minutes. Patients are also sometimes asked to return the following day so that additional pictures can be made.

How soon will my doctor get the results of my bone scan?

After the bone scan is complete, a nuclear medicine physician will study the pictures along with your medical history to make an assessment of what the images show. Then they'll dictate a report that will be forwarded to your physician within three business days. If results are needed sooner, your doctor may contact the nuclear medicine physician on the day of the bone scan.