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Nuclear medicine bone scans are used to detect bone damage, which may be due to disease (such as arthritis, osteoporosis or tumours), infection or injury (such as fractures). In some cases, it may be only necessary to look at a particular bone or joint. However in the case of tumours, a whole body scan is usually carried out (see picture opposite). A bone scan is a very sensitive technique and can often detect damage missed by X-ray CT.
When the radioactive substance is injected, it travels through the bloodstream and collects in your bones. More of the radioactivity will collect in areas of bone activity (i.e. the bone is either breaking down or repairing itself). These areas of high activity will show up as ãhot spotsä in the image that is acquired by the gamma camera.
The purpose of this study is to take pictures of your bones to help the doctor diagnose your condition, and give appropriate treatment as required.
On arrival you will receive an injection, which contains radioactivity into a vein in your arm. You must return to the Department about 3 hours later for the scan. After emptying your bladder, you will be asked to lie down on a couch, and pictures of your bones will be taken using a gamma camera. On occasions, the pictures may be taken with you sitting or standing. You do not normally need to take off any clothing. Only removal of jewellery or metal objects is required. In order to get good pictures the camera will be close and you will have to remain still. The scan takes 30-45 minutes.
If you are pregnant, or you think you might be pregnant, you need to inform your doctor or the Nuclear Medicine staff before attending your appointment. In general, exposure to radiation during pregnancy should be kept to a minimum and it may be necessary to postpone your scan. The present guidelines recommend that breast-feeding need not be interrupted if the mother is undergoing this test; however, it is advisable to feed the baby before the injection and to express and discard any milk secreted over the first 3 hours following the injection.
We would prefer that you do not bring more than one person with you. Also, it is advisable not to have a pregnant woman or a small child with you. This is to avoid exposing them to unnecessary radiation. It is also preferable to avoid prolonged close contact (cuddling a child / sitting a child on your knee for more than half an hour) for the rest of the day.
You may eat, drink, and take your medication as normal. In between the injection and scan you may eat normally, but we would like you to drink at least 5 glasses of water and to empty your bladder frequently. This will make the pictures clearer and flush out any excess radioactivity from your body.
The needle prick from the injection may hurt a little. Side effects from the injection are extremely rare.
The amount of radioactivity you receive in this study is strictly within the recommended national level. At this level, the benefit to you from a diagnosis of your condition outweighs the risk (negligible) of any harm associated with the radiation you will receive.
You may eat as normal after the study. The more fluid you drink the better, as the radioactivity is passed out in the urine. No extra precautions need to be taken when passing urine.
The Nuclear Medicine doctor will report on the study, and the result will be sent to the doctor who requested the study.