HAVING A BONE SCAN

What is a bone scan?

Unlike a plain x-ray, a bone scan can show all the bones at one examination. It shows what is happening in your bones and can detect abnormalities in the bones at an earlier stage than a simple x-ray. Abnormal bones show up as highlighted areas or "hot spots" or "cold spots" on the pictures because they absorb the radioactive substance (called a tracer) at different rate to normal bones.

However, it is not always clear whether any abnormality is caused by cancer or by other conditions such as arthritis or previous broken bones. So, if you have had an injury or break to a bone, please inform the radiographer.

You may have a bone scan before, during, or after your treatment to check on any changes to your bones.

Where do I wait?

If you are an outpatient, you can wait in the Nuclear Medicine waiting room where there is a television and a drinks machine. You may want to bring a book or magazine and a packed lunch. Alternatively, you can go for a drive or go home. The radiographer will let you know when to return. If you are an in-patient, you may wait on your ward.

Between having your injection and the scan, we will ask you to drink plenty of liquid to help flush any excess tracer from your body. This will make the pictures clearer. The radiographer will call you when she/he is ready to scan you .

Is the radioactive injection harmful?

No. The amount of radioactive tracer injected is very small and is not harmful. It is similar to having several x-rays and the radioactivity will disappear from your body within a few hours.

What will happen during the scan?

Introduction

What is a bone scan?

What happens during the scan?