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Bone scan
bone scan · bone scintigraphy · nuclear medicine bone scan · skeletal scintigraphy
A small dose of a tracer substance is injected into a vein. It collects in the bones, and a special camera takes images of the whole skeleton.
To find changes in the bones when the doctor needs to see the whole skeleton at once, or for bone pain with no clear cause.
⏱ Duration: the whole visit usually takes 3 to 5 hours: the injection, 2 to 4 hours of waiting, and a 20 to 40 minute scan; the report in 1 to 3 days
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Food. Usually no special prep. You can eat and drink.
- Water. After the injection, you are asked to drink plenty of water and use the toilet often.
- Metal. Before the scan, take off jewelry and your belt, and empty your pockets of keys.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Past images and reports
- Water and something to read while you wait
How it goes
- You get an injection into a vein, just like a blood test
- You wait 2 to 4 hours, drink water, and use the toilet
- Before the scan, you empty your bladder
- You lie on your back, and the camera moves slowly over your body
- You lie still for 20 to 40 minutes
What you'll feel
- The injection feels like giving blood
- You do not feel the tracer at all
- The camera is close, but it does not touch you or make noise
Afterwards
- That day, drink more water and use the toilet more often
- For about 24 hours, it is usually best not to hold small children or sit close to pregnant women. Check with the clinic
- Take the report to the doctor who referred you
Common questions
Is the radiation dangerous?
The dose is small, about the same as a CT scan. The tracer leaves your body quickly in your urine.
Can I be around children after the scan?
You are usually advised not to hold babies for 24 hours. The clinic will tell you the exact time.