bone scans
Radioactive skeletal portraits
Bone scans are medical imaging tests that detect abnormalities in bones.
A radioactive tracer is injected into the bloodstream and accumulates in areas of high bone activity—revealing fractures, infections, or cancer that has spread to the skeleton.
Unlike X-rays, bone scans show metabolic activity rather than just structure: The bone scan revealed several hot spots.
Metastable medical radioisotope
- radiopharmaceuticalMedicinal radioactive substance
- intravenous injectionMedication delivered through veins
- nuclear medicineHealthcare using radioactive materials
- radiologyImaging-based diagnostic medicine
Cancer spreading beyond origin
- tumor detectionLocating abnormal tissue masses
- cancer stagingClassifying malignancy extent
- stress fractureMicroscopic bone crack from overuse
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
osteomyelitis · arthritis · screening · pathology · oncology · biopsy · tumor marker · abnormality
Microscopic bone crack from overuse
- hairline crackNarrow, barely visible fissure
- nonunionWithout labor organization
- sports injuryHarm from physical activity
- shin splintsInflammation along the shinbone
Reduced bone mineral density
- demineralizationRemoval of minerals
- calcium lossMineral leaving bones
- fragilityEase of breaking
technetium-99m
Metastable medical radioisotope
- radiopharmaceuticalMedicinal radioactive substance
- intravenous injectionMedication delivered through veins
- nuclear medicineHealthcare using radioactive materials
metastasis
Cancer spreading beyond origin
- tumor detectionLocating abnormal tissue masses
- cancer stagingClassifying malignancy extent
- stress fractureMicroscopic bone crack from overuse
infection · osteomyelitis · arthritis · screening · pathology · oncology · biopsy · tumor marker · abnormality
stress fracture
Microscopic bone crack from overuse
- hairline crackNarrow, barely visible fissure
- nonunionWithout labor organization
- sports injuryHarm from physical activity
osteopenia
Reduced bone mineral density
- demineralizationRemoval of minerals
- calcium lossMineral leaving bones
- fragilityEase of breaking
- nuclear applicationsnuclear medicine, nuclear power, nuclear reactors, radiation therapy, PET scans
- osteologyosteology, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, ossification, long bones
- elder orthopedicship fracture, hip fractures, hip replacement, hip surgery, knee replacement
- radiopharmaceuticalsradiopharmaceuticals, radiotracers, technetium-99m, radioactive tracers, iodine-131
- bonesskull, femur, tibia, skulls, humerus
bone scansX-rays
Short-wavelength penetrating light
MRI · ultrasound · endoscopy · CT scans · echocardiograms
bone scansphysical examination
Medical evaluation of body
palpation · blood tests · laboratory analysis · biopsy · auscultation