What Is a Bone Scan?
Bone scans can help to identify and diagnose bone infections, bone cancer, spine fractures, and osteoporosis in the lower back. Learn what happens when you get a bone scan.
Transcript: What Is a Bone Scan?
A Healthy Spine
The spine consists of 33 vertebrae that protect the spinal cord and provide stability to the torso. The lower section of the spine is called the lumbar spine. This section of the spine is the most common site for back pain.Getting a Bone Scan
When there is a problem with lower back pain a doctor can perform a bone scan to help determine the cause. This is a test in which a radioactive chemical called a tracer is injected into the bloodstream. The chemical sticks to areas where a large amount of new bone is being produced, usually indicating bone damage of some kind. A gamma camera is then used to detect the chemical in the bones and create a digital image.Use of a Bone Scan
The bone scan can show problem areas such as infection, bone tumors, and fractures of the spine. A bone scan can also be used to determine bone density and the bone-thinning condition of osteoporosis. After the problem areas are located, more specific tests may be performed to determine the best method of treatment.Copyrighted animations provided by Blausen Medical.