Their risk of breaking a bone is low. They do not need the test. They should exercise regularly and get plenty of calcium and vitamin D. This is the best way to prevent bone loss. A bone-density test gives out a small amount of radiation. But the harmful effects of radiation can add up, so it is best to avoid it when you can. The most common drugs to treat bone loss are Fosamax generic alendronate , Boniva generic ibandronate , and Actonel generic risendronate.
These drugs have many risks and are over-prescribed. Sign up and get your guide! The EANM practice guidelines for bone scintigraphy. Skeletal scintigraphy. Cancer Control. National Library of Medicine US. Technetium tc 99m sestamibi. Updated March 17, Food and Drug Administration. Prescribing information for technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid Injection. Revised July Bone scan skeletal scintigraphy. Updated March 1, National Library of Medicine.
Medical encyclopedia: Bone scan. Updated May 4, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth.
At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Purpose of the Test. Risks and Contraindications. Before the Test. During the Test. Throughout the Test. Interpreting the Results.
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Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Technetium tc 99m medronate Intravenous. Updated January 21, Related Articles. How Carcinoid Tumor Is Diagnosed. How Chondrosarcoma Is Diagnosed. A technologist, nurse, or doctor will provide you with any necessary special instructions before you leave.
The small amount of radiotracer in your body will lose its radioactivity over time through the natural process of radioactive decay.
It may also pass out of your body through your urine or stool during the first few hours or days after the test. Drink plenty of water to help flush the material out of your body.
The amount of radiation is so small that it is not a risk for people to come in contact with you after the test. A radiologist or other doctor specially trained in nuclear medicine will interpret the images and send a report to your referring physician. Occasionally, an abnormal finding on a bone scan may require additional tests like CT, MRI, blood tests or a biopsy to help distinguish between normal and abnormal bone.
Nuclear medicine procedures can be time consuming. It can take several hours to days for the radiotracer to accumulate in the area of interest. Plus, imaging may take up to several hours to perform. In some cases, newer equipment can substantially shorten the procedure time.
However, nuclear medicine scans are more sensitive for a variety of indications. The functional information they yield is often unobtainable using other imaging techniques. Please type your comment or suggestion into the text box below. Note: we are unable to answer specific questions or offer individual medical advice or opinions. Some imaging tests and treatments have special pediatric considerations.
The teddy bear denotes child-specific content. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician. To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information.
The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America RSNA and the American College of Radiology ACR , comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas.
Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo. Toggle navigation. What is skeletal scintigraphy bone scan?
What are some common uses of the procedure? How should I prepare? What does the equipment look like? How does the procedure work? How is the procedure performed? What will I experience during and after the procedure? Who interprets the results and how do I get them? What are the benefits vs. What are the limitations of Skeletal Scintigraphy? Which test, procedure or treatment is best for me?
Physicians order skeletal scintigraphy to: find bone cancer or determine whether cancer from another area of the body, such as the breast, lung or prostate gland, has spread to the bones. This means that the procedure uses a very small amount of a radioactive substance, called a tracer. The tracer is injected into a vein. The tracer is absorbed in different amounts and those areas are highlighted on the scan.
When cells and tissues are changing, they absorb more of the tracer. This may indicate the presence of cancer. If the result shows change or damage to your bones, you may need more tests. These tests may include other types of bone scans. A computed tomography CT scan and a positron-emission tomography PET scan can be done following a bone scan. Further testing may also include a magnetic resonance imaging MRI , or a biopsy.
A specially trained and certified nuclear medicine technologist performs the test. A nuclear medicine physician is a medical doctor who uses tracers to diagnose and treat disease. A radiologist or a nuclear medicine physician oversees the technologist. A radiologist is a medical doctor who uses imaging tests to diagnose disease. One of these doctors will read your scan and decide what it means. When you schedule your bone scan, the hospital or imaging center staff will tell you how to prepare.
Usually, you do not need much special preparation before a bone scan, but it's important to confirm this with the place giving you the test. If anything is unclear in the instructions, talk with your health care team.
Here are some things that you can expect: What to eat. You can typically eat and drink normally before your appointment. Your usual medications. Tell your health care team about all medications you take, including over the counter OTC drugs and supplements.
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