Bone scan

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Nuclear scan

Scintigraphy - bone

If you are pregnant or nursing, the test may be postponed to prevent exposing the developing baby to radiation. If you must have the test while breastfeeding, you should pump and throw away the breast milk for the next 2 days.

The amount of radiation injected into your vein is very small, and nearly all radiation is gone from the body within 2 - 3 days. The radiotracer that is used exposes you to a very small amount of radiation. The risk is probably no greater than with routine or conventional x-rays.

Risks related to the bone radiotracer are rare, but may include:

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• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic response)
• Rash
• Swelling

There is a slight risk of infection or bleeding when the needle is inserted into a vein.

Some abnormalities that may be identified on radionuclide bone scans include:

• Arthritis and other degenerative diseases of the bones
• Avascular necrosis
• Bone infections (osteomyelitis)
• Bone tumors
• Fibrous dysplasia
• Fractures
• Paget's disease
• Radiation changes
• Rickets
• Tumors that have spread from other parts of the body to the bone (metastatic disease)

It is important to understand that bone scan findings must be compared with other imaging studies, in addition to clinical information. You should always discuss the significance of abnormal findings with your health care provider.

Review Date: 11/02/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).