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Risks

By Mayo Clinic staff

A bone scan's sensitivity to variation in bone metabolism and its ability to scan the entire skeleton make it very helpful in diagnosing a wide range of bone disorders. The test poses no greater risk than do conventional X-ray procedures. The tracers used in a bone scan produce very little radiation exposure.

You might find the injection and the need to lie still during the scanning procedure mildly uncomfortable. The risk of an allergic reaction to the tracers is low.

How you prepare Why it's done
References
  1. Weissman BN, et al. Diagnostic imaging of bone pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Glossary of orthopaedic diagnostic tests. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00272#Bone%20Scan. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Sharp PF, et al. Nuclear medicine imaging. In: Sharp PF, et al. Practical Nuclear Medicine. 3rd ed. London, England: Springer; 2005:1.
MY00306 Jan. 26, 2012

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