Bone scans, also known as bone scintigraphy, inspect the structure of your skeleton and identify any issues with blood flow and metabolism in the bones. Bone scans utilize minute quantities of a radioactive drug, such as technetium-99m labeled diphosphonates. This drug reaches your bones and presents a story of their blood supply and metabolism, highlighting the activity of osteoblasts, the cells responsible for creating bone tissue.
Bone scans are highly efficient for detecting and observing primary bone tumors and bone metastases, as they can identify problems early on. They also help detect inflammatory bone-joint diseases, minuscule fractures, dead bone tissue in the hip, bone infections, and unexplained pain that doesn鈥檛 get detected on a regular x-ray, among other conditions.
While bone scans are profoundly sensitive, they don’t exactly specify the type of issue they detect. Hence, they are often used in combination with other imaging methods like X-rays or MRIs. Bone scans are usually non-painful, and the doses of radioactive substances used in the procedure are minimal and pose no danger. But, they are not deemed suitable during pregnancy.
The process of performing a bone scan starts with a review of your medical history and any medications you鈥檙e taking. Afterwards, the radioactive drug is administered through an IV, and you generally wait for about three to four hours for the drug to settle in your bones. Then, you will have your actual scan done, which would take approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
Simply put, bone scans provide a comprehensive view of the skeleton, helping to identify a variety of bone-related health issues. They involve a minimal dose of radiation, and the benefits of earlier detection and precise diagnosis typically far exceed the risks.
