How is a bone scan test done
What is a bone scan?
hello my name's Eiji and I'm a nuclear
medicine technologist here at MD
Anderson and today I want to explain to
you a little bit about how the bone scan
works the purpose of the bone scan is to
help your doctor evaluate how your bones
are working it provides information to
help diagnose and treat your condition
the scan can show injury to the bones
the effects of disease such as cancer or
infection any improvement or worsening
in a bone condition after any treatments
there is no special preparation for this
test you may eat and take your
medications as you normally do if you
are or think you may be pregnant or
breastfeeding please inform your
healthcare team during the appointment
there are two parts the nuclear medicine
bone scan the injection and the skin in
the first part you will receive an
injection of a small amount of
radioactive material into a pain you
will be asked to return to the imaging
area in about two hours for the second
part of your scan the radioactive
materials need time to be absorbed by
the bones during the two-hour wait you
may eat whatever your doctor has allowed
the radioactive material is eliminated
from your body through urine it is
important that you drink lots of fluid
to stay hydrated
your bones will be imaged with a nuclear
scanner before the scan remove any
metals you may be wearing for example
jewelry belt coins in your pocket you
will be asked to empty your bladder this
will prevent any radioactive urine from
blocking the pelvic bone during the scan
you will need to lie on your back during
the scan it is important to be very
still during scan as movement may blur
the image the scan takes about thirty
minutes there are no restrictions after
your bone scan your - will receive the
bone scan images and the test results
these findings will be shared with you
at your next appointment I hope this
video has given you more
about the bone scan for more information
please visit our MD Anderson website
