What are the disadvantages of a bone scan?
What are the limitations of Skeletal Scintigraphy? Bone scans cannot identify some types of cancer. 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.
Is pregnancy contraindication for bone scan?
What are the absolute contraindications for a Bone Scan? In general, nuclear medicine bone scans are not carried out on pregnant women.
How much radiation do you get from a bone scan?
For typical activities of Tc-99m bisphosphonates administered to adults, the effective radiation dose (an estimate of the dose to the whole body) is approximately 6.0 mSv….What is the radiation dose?
| Test/situation | Total effective dose (mSv) |
|---|---|
| Chest X-ray4 | 0.1 |
| Annual Australian background5 | 1.5–2.0 |
| Bone scan2 | 6.0 |
Are bone scans radioactive?
A bone scan may also be used to follow the progress of treatment of certain conditions. A bone scan is a type of nuclear radiology procedure. This means that a tiny amount of a radioactive substance is used during the procedure to assist in the examination of the bones.
What is a radioisotope bone scan?
Definition: radioisotope bone scan. radioisotope bone scan. A nuclear imaging examination that produces pictures of bones to help detect abnormalities caused by disease or injury. During a bone scan, a small amount of radioactive material is injected into the body and collects in the bones.
What is the side effects of nuclear medicine?
Side Effects of Radiation
- skin reactions – tanning and redness similar to a sunburn can occur gradually during treatment, peaking after treatment ends.
- sore throat and/or mouth.
- difficulty and/or pain with swallowing.
- hoarseness.
- soreness or swelling in the neck.
- weight loss or dehydration.
Can you have a bone scan while pregnant?
Bone scans aren’t usually performed on pregnant women or nursing mothers because of concerns about radiation exposure to the baby. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant — or think you might be pregnant — or if you’re nursing.
Are bone scans safe?
A bone scan carries no greater risk than conventional X-rays. The tracers in the radioactive substance used in a bone scan produce very little radiation exposure. The risk of having an allergic reaction to the tracers is low. However, the test may be unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
How long after a bone scan are you radioactive?
After the test A bone scan generally has no side effects, and no follow-up care is needed. The radioactivity from the tracers is usually completely eliminated two days after the scan.
What are the side effects of nuclear medicine?
What do you need to know about bone scintigraphy?
Bone scintigraphy, or bone scan, is a procedure to look at the bones in your body. It shows pictures of any bone fractures, damage, or disease. Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure. Tell your healthcare provider if you know or think you might be pregnant.
Are there any side effects to a bone scan?
Generally, there are no other side effects. The bone scan itself is usually painless and is rarely associated with significant discomfort or side effects. No anesthesia is needed for skeletal scintigraphy, and sedation is rarely necessary. The test may be uncomfortable if you are having joint or bone pain.
Can a bone scan tell you if you are pregnant?
Because it is able to pinpoint molecular activity within the body, skeletal scintigraphy offers the potential to identify disease in its earliest stages. Tell your doctor if there’s a possibility you are pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.
Do you need sedation for a bone scan?
The bone scan itself is usually painless and is rarely associated with significant discomfort or side effects. No anesthesia is needed for skeletal scintigraphy, and sedation is rarely necessary.