Answer
A bone density scan is a procedure used in lieu of x-ray exam to screem patients for osteoporosis and other bone abnormalities like rheumatoid arthritis, Paget's disease.
In this procedure a small amount of radioactivetracer is injected intravenously into the patient. The tracer is carried by the blood to the bone and sbsorbe by it. The bone (or bones) is the examined, scanned with a camera that is sensitive to radioacticity.
Pictures of normal bone tissue will present a uniform gray appearance. Abnormaal areas of bone tissue will appear as darker spots (hot spots0 ) or lighter areas (cold spots). Hot spots are usually indication of higher metabolism in the area and may be caused by conditions such as cancer, abnormal healing of fractures or rapid bone growth. Cold spots may be diagnostic of degenerative bone disease, decalcified bone, or diseases like Paget's disease and rheumatoid arhthritis.
Work Step by Step
Bone scans expose the patient to less radioactivity that does regular bone x-rays, and the former is the standard test used for bone density screening when osteoporosis or osteopenia is suspected.
