What does a three-phase bone scan show?
A triple-phase bone scan is a test that can show early bone disease, infection or fractures. In many cases, the test can find these conditions before they can be seen on standard X-rays. This bone scan uses a small amount of radioactive material (tracer) that is absorbed into your bones.
What will a bone scan of the knee show?
Bone scans are used primarily to detect the spread of metastatic cancer. For this test, a nurse or technician injects you with radioactive dye and then takes scans of your bones. The picture shows areas of cells where the radiation is concentrated, which can mean that there is an abnormality.
How long does a knee bone scan take?
The scan takes 30 minutes to an hour. It is painless and you can go home after the scan. The body gets rid of the tracer through your urine over the next day. A bone scan shows up changes or abnormalities in the bones.
How long does a three-phase bone scan take?
The camera takes pictures of how much radiotracer collects in the bones. If a bone scan is done to see if you have a bone infection, images may be taken shortly after the radioactive material is injected and again 3 to 4 hours later, when it has collected in the bones. This process is called a 3-phase bone scan.
How do you prepare for a 3-phase bone scan?
How should I prepare for this exam? There are no special requirements prior to coming to your exam. Eating and drinking is allowed, as well as taking any medications your doctor has prescribed. Drinking plenty of liquids is encouraged between the injection and scan.
How long does a three phase bone scan take?
Do you have to take your clothes off for a bone scan?
No special preparations are needed. You may be able to remain fully clothed, depending on the area of your body being scanned. But you’ll need to remove any clothes that have metal fasteners, such as zips, hooks or buckles. In some cases, you may need to wear a gown.
What are the signs of arthritis in the knee?
There are many signs and symptoms of arthritis of the knee:
- Creaking, clicking, grinding or snapping noises (crepitus).
- Difficulty walking.
- Joint pain that changes (gets better or worse) depending on the weather.
- Joint stiffness.
- Knee buckling.
- Knee joint pain that progresses slowly or pain that happens suddenly.
Will a bone scan show arthritis?
Bone scans are used to detect arthritis, neoplasm, fractures and sports injuries, tumors and metastatic disease, as well as to evaluate unexplained bone pain.
Will I feel sick after a bone scan?
Bone scans do not generally cause any after effects. Through the natural process of radioactive decay, the small amount of radioactive chemical in your body will lose its radioactivity over time. It also passes out of your body through your urine over about 24 hours.
How long is a 3 phase bone scan?
The procedure is painless. Your health care provider might order a three-phase bone scan, which includes a series of images taken at different times. A number of images are taken as the tracer is injected, then shortly after the injection, and again 3 to 5 hours after the injection.
What is a three phase bone scan?
What is a Three Phase Bone Scan? A three phase bone scan is used to diagnose a fracture when it cannot be seen on an Xray. It is also used to diagnose bone infection, bone pain, osteomyelitis, as well as other bone diseases. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
How do you do a bone scan of the knee?
Bone Scan Procedure In order to conduct a bone scan of the knee, the patient lies down on an examination table and an intravenous catheter is installed in an arm. Patients receive an injection of the radiopharmaceutical material via the catheter, which passes into the bloodstream.
Can a three-phase bone scan diagnose complex regional pain syndrome type 1?
Diagnostic performance of three-phase bone scan for complex regional pain syndrome type 1 with optimally modified image criteria. Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2011 Dec;45(4):261-7.
What can interfere with a 3-phase bone scan?
Numerous factors can interfere with a 3-phase bone scan. If the patient has a medical condition that affects blood flow unilaterally, then the flow and blood pool phases can be adversely affected, demonstrating relatively abnormal activity to an area that may be normal for the patient.