Bone Scan - Foot Problems Message Board

sbrewer · 10-03-2005, 01:10 PM

What is a bone scan? Is it different from an MRI?
I'm thinking of switching Drs. and when I called to make a knew app., I was asked if I had a bone scan or an MRI done. I told them I only had 2 x-rays done.
thanks,
sbrewer

kehorner · 10-04-2005, 10:47 AM

A bone scan is completely different. They inject a radioactive tracer via IV, then that tracer gets picked up by bone tissue. The more active the bone tissue, the more is picked up. So then they use a machine that reads how much tracer has been picked up. If there is a certain area that has picked up a lot more that other areas, then there is something going on there. That something could be a small fracture or some sort of disease or tumor. But it's good for picking up on tiny fractures that don't show up on x-ray.

sbrewer · 10-04-2005, 04:25 PM

WOW, that doesn't sound like fun. Thank you so much for the information.
I have been in this boot going on 5 months and I know there's something wrong. I think I will switch drs. and see if I get somewhere with this.
Thanks,
sbrewer

kehorner · 10-04-2005, 10:20 PM

I've never actually had a bone scan, but I don't think it would be too bad. Basically, the IV is the worst part. Some people feel flushed or get slight nausea when they inject the dye, but that usually isn't bad. They listed the same risks with the dye they used for my head CT, and all I had was a funny taste for a few seconds. Other than that, you just sit or lay there.

TPB · 10-18-2005, 11:38 PM

Actually, a bone scan is one of the easiest tests you can have. There is less that 1% chance of having any kind of reaction to the tracer they use. The "dye" that is used for CT scans contains iodine, which can give you a funny taste, but nuclear medicine procedures don't use iodinated "dye" Usually, they don't need to start an IV on you, they simply inject directly from the syringe into a vein (nuclear medicine techs are extremely good at this). What happens is they give you the injection and have you leave and return for pictures 3-4 hours later. During that time, you can eat normally, but they will ask you to drink a lot of water and empty your bladder often. The scan is really easy, you basically lay there and they take pictures of whatever the area of interest is. Bottom line, a bone scan is absolutely nothing to sweat over. Kehorner is right that bone scans can pick up subtle fractures that x-rays can miss.