Bone Scan

Bone scans are considerably more sensitive than skeletal x-rays for detecting the presence and extent of bone disease.
Primary and metastatic bone neoplasms
Osteomyelitis, stress fracture, aseptic necrosis, bone infarction, and joint disorders.
Paget’s disease.
Differentiation of bone islands versus osteoblastic metastases or other focal osteosclerotic lesions.
Bone lesion, i.e. osteoid osteoma.
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy
Evaluation of progression or response to therapy
Trauma
Musculoskeletal inflammation/infection
Prosthetic joint loosening/infection
Pain of suspected musculoskeletal etiology
Reflex Sympathetic dystrophy
Evaluation of abnormal radiographic findings or abnormal laboratory findings
Distribution of osteoblastic activity prior to therapy with strontium-89 or similar therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals

Patient’s abdomen should be free of barium; however, studies may be performed on patients who have also undergone x-ray examinations using barium if the area of interest will not be
obscured by the barium. A KUB x-ray may be indicated prior to dosing the patient.
After injection of the radiopharmaceutical the patient should be encouraged to drink 32 ounces or more of liquids and to void frequently.
After injection there is a 3 hour wait.
Patient should empty urinary bladder prior to scan.
Remove all metal objects prior to scanning.

Inject 99m Tc MDP or HDP IV and wait at least 3 hours before starting scan. Certain suspected pathologies will require a dynamic flow study to be obtained at the time of injection.
Routine views obtained are: Whole Body
Other projections may need to be obtained to adequately demonstrate suspected pathology.
SPECT imaging if indicated, back pain, rib pain – no increased areas of uptake on whole body scan. Per physician/radiologist written order