Scanning Bones

Progress does not stand still. If once healers and doctors determined what a person is sick, solely by his appearance, then modern doctors have access to much more accurate, qualitative and effective methods of examining the patient. Take at least such a procedure as ... scanning the bones.

Bone scanning, which is bone scintigraphy or bone scintigraphy, is used when it is necessary to detect an inflammatory process (caused by a tumor or infection) or a hidden, imperceptible crack in the bone that is not visible on the X-ray.

Bone scintigraphy is performed as follows: when preparing for the procedure, a small amount of radiopaque substance is administered intravenously. This, in fact, all preparation. Do not stop taking medication, and if you do not have any restrictions, do not worry about eating - you can eat. However, after the introduction of radiopaque substance and before the start of scanning it is recommended to drink a lot.

Three hours later, and immediately begins scanning, during which the person is placed in the scanner, which makes the pictures. The images show the human skeleton, where some bones look slightly darker, and some - a little lighter. This is a kind of game in the "cold-hot." Dark areas are "hot", and it is possible that it is there that the source of the disease lies. Light areas - "cold", they are likely to be healthy.

Osteoscintigraphy is a highly sensitive test that can detect tumors, the presence of infections and cracks, which is manifested in the form of a high level of bone remodeling (the process of bone tissue renewal). Moreover, by scanning the bones, you can even determine whether a crack in the bone is old or new, and whether it will overgrow with time, or not.

However, there is a scan of bones and minus: this procedure can not reveal what exactly is a lesion in the picture. Is it a swelling? Is it an infection? Cracking the bones? This is why bone scans are usually used together with other methods of examining the patient, for example, together with computer or magnetic resonance imaging. This approach allows us not only to determine the affected area, but also to clearly identify the cause of the lesion.

Moreover, such studies perfectly complement each other. The thing is that X-rays and tomography results will show only the structure of the bone. In turn, bone scanning assesses the condition of bones from a functional point of view. This is especially useful in those cases when the disease has not yet changed the structure of the bone, but has already negatively affected its functions, distorting them.

So, for example, scanning a skeleton is very useful when:

• Diagnosis of osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone marrow and adjacent bone tissue);
• Diagnostics of stress disorders;
• When working with cancer patients, bone scanning will help to determine whether the cancer has spread to the bone, or not. Moreover, in this case, it is especially strongly recommended to undergo such examination, because at a time the condition of all the bones of the organism will be analyzed;
• When diagnosing idiopathic pain in the bones.

With all its advantages, scintigraphy of the skeleton is also a relatively safe procedure. Side effects are extremely rare, and the risks associated with scanning the skeleton are small. The same side effects that can still appear in patients, usually light and not dangerous - no more than nausea and vomiting. However, there are some limitations. So, for example, pregnant women before the scan of bones, it is strongly recommended that you first consult with your doctor.