Nuclear Medicine Project
Radiopharmaceutical: Technetium Methylene Diphosphate
What is a Bone Scan ?
A bone scan is a procedure used to diagnose bone cancer, and to help find the sources of unexplained bone problems. This is a very safe procedure, but some people might have allergic reactions to some of the nuclear dyes and should notify their doctors of any allergies prior to the scan.
How is the procedure done ?
The procedure is done by injecting a tracer ( Technetium Methylene Diphosphate ) through a vein in someones arm, then the tracer goes through the bloodstream and into your bone where a special camera takes a photo of the bone. When the photos are done, the doctor will look to see if there is any "hot" spots or "cold" spots. A "hot" spots is an area that absorbs more of the tracer, and it can be a sign of arthritis, while a "cold" spots is an area the absorbs little or none of the tracer, and it could be a sign of cancer. Doing this procedure can detect bone cancer and other forms of bone diseases, and early intervention is the key to a successful treatment.