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Get Healthy ~ Stay Healthy

Essential4Health

Get Healthy ~ Stay Healthy

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Bone Scintigraphy

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BS

Description

"Bone Scintigraphy" scan uses a small amount of radioactive tracer to detect hidden bone abnormalities that may not show up on regular X-rays. It’s often ordered to investigate unexplained pain, fractures, infections, or cancer spread. After injection, a special camera tracks the tracer’s path to highlight areas of unusual bone activity. Doctors use the results to locate specific issues and guide care. This scan is especially helpful for early diagnosis and monitoring of long-term skeletal conditions.

"Bone Scintigraphy" scan uses a small amount of radioactive tracer to detect hidden bone abnormalities that may not show up on regular X-rays. It’s often ordered to investigate unexplained pain, fractures, infections, or cancer spread. After injection, a special camera tracks the tracer’s path to highlight areas of unusual bone activity. Doctors use the results to locate specific issues and guide care. This scan is especially helpful for early diagnosis and monitoring of long-term skeletal conditions.

Test Category

Musculoskeletal Function

Procedure

Non-Invasive

Sample Type

No biological sample is needed for this test.

Units

Not Applicable

Procedure Category

Scan

Test Group

Imaging Scans Group

Test Group Description

Imaging Scans Group: This group includes a variety of diagnostic imaging techniques used to visualize internal structures and organs in the body. These techniques may include X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine scans.

Optimal Range

For All Individuals:

  • Conventional Unit: Hot Spots: Negative | Cold Spots: Negative

  • SI Unit: Not Applicable

Normal Range

For All Individuals:

  • Conventional Unit: Hot Spots: Negative | Cold Spots: Negative

  • SI Unit: Not Applicable

Results That Differ From The Norm (Direct and Indirect Causes)

Abnormal results may indicate:


Hot spots due to:


  • Avascular necrosis (Death of bone tissue due to reduced blood supply)

  • Bone trauma (Injury to the bones)

  • Healing fracture (Bone repair process)

  • Malignant bone tumors (Cancerous growths in the bones)

  • Metastatic bone cancer (Cancer spreading to the bones)

  • ...

Key Reasons For Testing

  • Detection of Bone Abnormalities: Identifies fractures, infections, tumors, and arthritis that may not appear on standard imaging.

  • Diagnosis and Staging of Bone Tumors: Detects primary bone tumors or metastases and evaluates disease progression.

  • Assessment of Bone Infections: Pinpoints infections like osteomyelitis or septic arthritis by identifying affected areas.

  • Detection of Bone Metastases: Locates cancer that has spread to bones, aiding in treatment planning.

  • Evaluation of Bone Pain: Helps locate the cause of unexplained bone pain for accurate diagnosis.

Health Status Conditions It May Be Used To Assess

Currently, this test is not directly associated with any conditions listed on the Health Status page. However, it may be included as part of a broader set of tests linked to specific health conditions.

Some Prominent Medical Labs That May Offer This Test

Please note that this particular test has not been associated with any of the listed prominent medical labs. We recommend enquiring with your private physician or nearest hospital to determine where this specific test can be performed.

References

Important Note

Any medical procedure yielding results outside the norm may be directly or indirectly linked to the conditions outlined on this page. Various factors, including genetics, medication and supplement usage, recent illnesses, pregnancy, pre-test eating, smoking, and stress, can impact the test's outcome. Additionally, factors like false positives, false negatives, inaccurate analyses, and others can influence results.


Reference ranges, which help healthcare professionals interpret medical tests, may vary depending on age, gender, and other factors. They may also differ between laboratories due to variations in instruments and methods used. Optimal ranges are designed for preventive purposes, aiming to identify trends and potential risks early, while normal ranges reflect conventional laboratory values indicating no current disease or pathology. Your healthcare practitioner may have specific reasons for testing that deviate from the usual or may interpret results differently based on individual circumstances. Proper interpretation typically involves considering clinical findings and other diagnostic tests. Hence, it is crucial to provide your healthcare professionals with a comprehensive medical history, consult with them for result interpretation, and follow their guidance for potential re-testing or additional diagnostics.

Disclaimer

This content is provided solely for informative and educational purposes. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. Regarding the interpretation of their medical test results and/or specific health questions, it is recommended that all readers and viewers consult their physicians or other qualified health professionals. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse health effects that may result from reading or following the information in this educational content. Before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program, all viewers, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physician or health care practitioner.


Please note that while prominent lab names are included in this content, we cannot guarantee that these labs offer all the tests mentioned. For confirmation, individuals should contact the labs directly or consult their medical practitioners. The information provided reflects general knowledge at the time of publication and may not include recent updates or emerging research. Readers should verify details with qualified professionals to ensure the most up-to-date and accurate guidance.

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[2] Schirrmeister H, Glatting G, Hetzel M, et al. Prospective evaluation of bone scintigraphy, positron emission tomography using 18F, and 18F-fluoride PET for detecting bone metastases in lung cancer patients. J Nucl Med.2001;42(12):1800-1804.
[3] Palestro CJ, Kim CK. Radionuclide imaging in orthopedic infections. Semin Nucl Med. 1997;27(4):334-345.
[4] Even-Sapir E, Metser U, Flusser G, et al. Assessment of malignant skeletal disease: the role of 18F-fluoride PET/CT. J Nucl Med. 2004;45(2):272-278.
[5] Gayed I, Vu T, Iyer R, Johnson MM, Macapinlac H. The role of bone scintigraphy in detecting bone metastases in patients with breast cancer: results from a large single-institution series. J Nucl Med. 2004;45(4):551-558.
[6] Love C, Din AS, Tomas MB, Kalapparambath TP, Palestro CJ. Radionuclide bone imaging: an illustrative review. Radiographics. 2003;23(4):1141-1158.
[7] Schirrmeister H, Guhlmann A, Kotzerke J, et al. Early detection and accurate description of extent of metastatic bone disease in breast cancer with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET: a comparison to conventional imaging. J Clin Oncol.1999;17(6):1979-1985.
[8] McAfee JG, Silverman ED. Imaging of musculoskeletal infections. Radiol Clin North Am. 1991;29(3):623-649.
[9] Fogelman I, Collier BD. The role of nuclear medicine in the evaluation of bone disease. Radiol Clin North Am.1993;31(4):739-754.
[10] Cook GJ, Fogelman I. The role of nuclear medicine in the detection of bone metastases. Cancer. 2000;88(12 Suppl):2921-2926.
[11] Gratz S, Rösler HP, Schäfer R, Wörtler K. Bone scintigraphy for the detection of stress fractures. Radiologe.1994;34(3):147-152.
[12] Dam HQ, Grant FD, Treves ST. Skeletal scintigraphy in pediatric patients. Radiol Clin North Am. 2001;39(5):859-873.
[13] Zaidi H, El Naqa I. PET-guided delineation of radiation therapy treatment volumes: a survey of image segmentation techniques. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2010;37(11):2165-2187.

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