Bone scan - Mayo Clinic
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A bone scan is a test that uses nuclear imaging to helps diagnose and track several types of bone disease. Nuclear imaging involves using small amounts of radioactive substances (radiotracers), a special camera that can detect the radioactivity and a computer to see structures such as bones inside the body. The tracer is absorbed more by cells and tissues that are changing. As a result, a bone scan can be used to find the source of unexplained skeletal pain, a bone infection or a bone injury that can't be seen on a standard X-ray. A bone scan can also be an important tool for detecting cancer that has spread (metastasized) to the bone from the tumor's original location, such as the breast or prostate. Products & Services
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Scan A shows hot spots (dark areas) in both knees, a sign of arthritis, and a possible fracture in the second toe of the right foot. Otherwise, it shows typical bone metabolism. Scan B shows numerous bone hot spots, a result of cancer that has spread to multiple locations. A bone scan might help determine the cause of unexplained bone pain. The test is sensitive to differences in bone metabolism, which are highlighted in the body by the radioactive tracer. Scanning the whole skeleton helps in diagnosing a wide range of bone disorders, including: Fractures Arthritis Paget's disease of bone Cancer originating in bone Cancer that has metastasized to bone from a different site Infection of the joints, joint replacements or bones More Information
Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis)Back painBladder cancerBone cancerBreast cancerBroken ankleBroken footBroken ribsBroken wristComplex regional pain syndromeEwing sarcomaFrostbiteInflammatory breast cancerLegg-Calve-Perthes diseaseLiver cancerLung cancerPaget's disease of boneProstate cancerRecurrent breast cancerSprained ankleStress fracturesThumb arthritisWrist painShow more related information Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Risks
Although the test relies on radioactive tracers to produce the images, these tracers produce little radiation exposure - less than a CT scan. How you prepare
You typically don't need to restrict your diet or restrict activities before a bone scan. Let your health care provider know if you've taken a medicine containing bismuth, such as Pepto-Bismol, or if you've had an X-ray test using barium contrast material within the past four days. Barium and bismuth can interfere with bone scan results. Wear loose clothing and leave jewelry at home. You might be asked to wear a gown for the scan. Bone scans aren't usually performed on pregnant women or nursing mothers because of concerns about radiation exposure to the baby. Tell your health care provider if you're pregnant - or think you might be pregnant - or if you're nursing. What you can expect
A bone scan procedure includes both an injection and the actual scan. The injection
Tiny amounts of radioactive materials (tracers) are injected into a vein in the hand or arm. The amount of time between the injection and scan varies, depending on the reason for the scan. Some images might be taken immediately after the injection. But the main images are taken 2 to 4 hours later to allow the tracer to circulate and be absorbed by your bones. You might be asked to drink several glasses of water while you wait. You'll likely be asked to empty your bladder before the scan to remove the unabsorbed tracer from your body. The scan
You'll lie still on a table while an armlike device supporting a tracer-sensitive camera passes back and forth over your body. The scan itself can take up to an hour. The procedure is painless. Your health care provider might order a three-phase bone scan, which includes a series of images taken at different times. A number of images are taken as the tracer is injected, then shortly after the injection, and again 3 to 5 hours after the injection. To better see some bones in your body, your doctor might order additional imaging called single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). This imaging can help with conditions that are especially deep in your bone or in places that are difficult to see. During a SPECT scan, the camera takes images as it rotates around your body. After the test
A bone scan generally has no side effects, and no follow-up care is needed. You might be asked to drink a lot of water for the next day or two to flush the tracer from your system. The radioactivity from the tracers is usually completely eliminated two days after the scan. Results
A specialist in reading images (radiologist) looks for evidence of unusual bone metabolism on the scans. These areas appear as darker "hot spots" and lighter "cold spots" where the tracers have or haven't accumulated. Although a bone scan is sensitive to differences in bone metabolism, it's less helpful in determining the cause of the differences. If you have a bone scan that shows hot spots, you might need more tests to determine the cause. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Doctors & Departments March 04, 2022 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references Skeletal scintigraphy (bone scan). Radiological Society of North America. https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/bone-scan. Accessed Nov. 20, 2021. Baccei SJ, et al. Imaging techniques for evaluation of the painful joint. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 20, 2021. Bone scan. American Society of Clinical Oncology. https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/diagnosing-cancer/tests-and-procedures/bone-scan. Accessed Nov. 20, 2021. Jameson J, et al., eds. Approach to articular and musculoskeletal disorders. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 20th ed. McGraw Hill; 2018. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Nov. 24, 2021. Related
Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis) Back pain Bladder cancer Bone cancer Bone metastasis Breast cancer Broken ankle Broken foot Broken ribs Broken wrist Cancer Complex regional pain syndrome Ewing sarcoma Frostbite Hot spots Inflammatory breast cancer Legg-Calve-Perthes disease Liver cancer Lung cancer Paget's disease of bone Prostate cancer Recurrent breast cancer Sprained ankle Stress fractures Thumb arthritis Wrist pain Show more related content Products & Services
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