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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffA bone scan is a nuclear imaging test that helps diagnose and track several types of bone disease. Your doctor may order a bone scan if you have unexplained skeletal pain suggesting bone loss, bone infection or a bone injury undetectable on a standard X-ray.
A bone scan is also an important tool for detecting cancer that has spread (metastasized) to the bone from a tumor that started in a different organ, such as the breast or prostate. Similarly, a bone scan can detect some abnormalities related to leukemia and lymphoma.
References
- Weissman BN, et al. Diagnostic imaging of bone pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.
- Coleman RE, et al. Bone metastases. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06694-8&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06694-8..50061-0. Accessed Dec. 14, 2011.
- Cleveland KB. General principles of infection. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/168406572-4/910701586/1584/95.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50018-0--cesec13_615. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.
- Glossary of orthopaedic diagnostic tests. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00272#Bone%20Scan. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.
- Safety: Radiation exposure in X-ray exams. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.
- Nicoll D, et al. Bone scan. In: Nicoll D, et al. Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/popup.aspx?aID=3141541. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.
- Sharp PF, et al. Nuclear medicine imaging. In: Sharp PF, et al. Practical Nuclear Medicine. 3rd ed. London, England: Springer; 2005:1.
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