A Bone Scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test used to detect problems in the bones – such as fractures, infections, tumors, or arthritis – even before they show up on an X-ray or MRI.
Unlike regular scans that look at the structure, a bone scan shows how active or abnormal your bones are, helping doctors find issues early and plan treatment more effectively.
At Dr. Anand’s Imaging & Neurological Research Centre, we use a Dual Head Gamma Camera for quick, clear, and accurate bone imaging.
🦠 Detect Infections
Find bone infections (osteomyelitis) even at early stages
Helpful after surgeries or in diabetic patients
🦴 Identify Fractures
Detect stress fractures that may be missed in X-rays
Monitor healing progress of old fractures
🧬 Spot Tumors
Reveal bone cancers or metastasis (when cancer spreads from other organs)
Monitor response to cancer treatments
💥 Evaluate Joint Pain
Diagnose arthritis, inflammation, or joint replacements complications
Pinpoint the exact pain site when the cause is unclear
1. 💉 Small Injection
A safe radioactive tracer is injected into a vein (usually in the arm). It travels through your bloodstream and collects in bones.
2. ⏳ Wait Period
You’ll wait for about 2–3 hours while the tracer spreads and highlights active areas in the bones.
3. 📷 Imaging
You lie on a scanning table while a gamma camera moves over your body, capturing images.
4. 🖥️ Results
The images show “hot spots” (increased activity) or “cold spots” (reduced activity), indicating the area of concern.
🕒 Scan time: ~30 minutes
🩺 Entire procedure: ~3–4 hours
| Condition | Use |
|---|---|
| Bone Pain | Unexplained or chronic pain |
| Cancer Patients | Detect bone metastasis (breast, prostate, lung) |
| Infections | Post-surgery, diabetic foot, implant infections |
| Arthritis | Inflammation or degenerative bone diseases |
| Stress Fractures | Tiny breaks not seen on X-rays |
| Children | Bone inflammation (osteomyelitis), injuries |
✅ No fasting needed
💧 Drink plenty of water after the injection
🚫 Avoid jewelry or metal items during the scan
👩⚕️ Inform the technician if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
🕶️ Radiation exposure is minimal and safe
💡 You can resume normal activity after the scan
A: Yes. It’s harmless, used in a very small amount, and exits the body quickly.
🅰️ No. It’s completely painless. Only the injection may feel like a small pinch.
🅰️ Around 3-4 hours, including waiting time and scan.
🅰️ Yes. It’s an outpatient procedure. You may resume normal activities right away.
🅰️ Reports are usually available same or next day, depending on urgency.
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