Often asked: Why Would My Orthopedist Order A Bone Scan?

Why would a doctor order a bone scan?

Your doctor may order a bone scan if you have 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.

Can a bone scan tell the difference between cancer and arthritis?

Bone scans also can show how much damage the cancer has caused in the bone. Areas of diseased bone will be seen on the bone scan as dense, gray to black areas, called “hot spots.” These areas suggest cancer is present, but arthritis, infection, or other bone diseases can also cause hot spots.

Does inflammation show up on a bone scan?

Abstract. The 99mTc-phosphate bone scan has become a sensitive, reliable, and safe method for evaluating the patient with suspected inflammatory disease of bone. The scan may become positive as early as the first 24 hr after the symptoms and 10-14 days before roentgenographic changes occur.

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Does a bone scan show arthritis?

A bone scan can also help find the cause of any unexplained bone pain you’re experiencing. Bone scans may reveal bone problems associated with the following conditions: arthritis.

What can bone scan reveal?

To detect conditions such as arthritis, benign bone tumors, Paget’s disease (a bone disorder, usually occurring in people over age 50, in which there is thickening and softening of the bones, and curving of the long bones ), and avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to loss of blood supply to the bones )

How long does it take to get the results of a bone scan?

How soon will the scan results be available? A radiologist will interpret the images, write a report, and deliver the results to your doctor via the internal computer system. This process usually takes less than 24 hours.

What does the beginning of bone cancer feel like?

Bone pain. Pain caused by bone cancer usually begins with a feeling of tenderness in the affected bone. This gradually progresses to a persistent ache or an ache that comes and goes, which continues at night and when resting.

Where does bone cancer usually start?

Bone cancer can begin in any bone in the body, but it most commonly affects the pelvis or the long bones in the arms and legs. Bone cancer is rare, making up less than 1 percent of all cancers. In fact, noncancerous bone tumors are much more common than cancerous ones.

Does bone cancer show up in blood work?

Symptoms, a physical exam, and the results of imaging tests, and blood tests might suggest that a person has bone cancer. But in most cases, doctors must confirm this by testing a tissue or cell sample and checking it with a microscope (a procedure known as a biopsy).

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What does a dark spot on a bone scan mean?

Areas that absorb little or no amount of tracer appear as dark or “cold” spots. This could show a lack of blood supply to the bone or certain types of cancer. Areas of fast bone growth or repair absorb more tracer and show up as bright or “hot” spots in the pictures.

Will a bone scan show disc problems?

Bone Scans Are Reliable for the Identification of Lumbar Disk and Facet Pathology.

Does a bone scan show osteoporosis?

Unlike ordinary X-rays, DEXA scans can measure tiny reductions in bone density. This makes it possible to diagnose osteoporosis in its early stages, before you break a bone. A DEXA scan also uses a low dose of radiation, which means the risks to health are much lower than with standard X-rays.

Do you have to take your clothes off for a bone scan?

No special preparations are needed. You may be able to remain fully clothed, depending on the area of your body being scanned. But you ‘ll need to remove any clothes that have metal fasteners, such as zips, hooks or buckles. In some cases, you may need to wear a gown.

Is a bone scan the same as a CT scan?

A CT scan is a high-resolution X-ray that gives detailed information about organ anatomy. A bone scan is a nuclear imaging test that aids in the diagnosis and tracking of several bone diseases. A CT scan uses a combination of X-rays and a computer to create images of the bones.

Can a bone scan show nerve damage?

Diagnostic Tests: Bone Density, Nerve Function, Discography, Lab Tests. A Bone Scan may help to detect very fine stress fractures, arthritis, infections, or tumors.

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