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Patient Education:

What is a Bone Scan?

The Bone Scan is a test used to examine the skeleton.  It helps the doctor to detect cancer, difficult-to-find bone fractures, bone infection, degenerative bone disorders, or evaluate unexplained bone pain.  This test can detect problems long before an X-ray could.  The test is performed by injecting a slightly radioactive solution into a vein in the patient's arm.  The scan is then performed approximately two to three hours after the solution is injected.  A special camera is passed over the entire body and can pick up any abnormalities.  The radioactive solution accumulates at the abnormality.  These abnormalities are known as “hot spots”.  The test is relatively painless and will take approximately one hour to complete.  Before the test the patient will be asked to drink four to six 8-ounce glasses of water to help distribute, as well as eliminate the radioactive solution.  After the test there may be slight redness or swelling at the injection site, however, normal activity may be resumed.