Bone scan

Alternative names:

scan - bone

Normal values:

Normal absorption appears uniformly gray. When bone is growing or new bone is created as a result of a fracture, there will be elevated levels of the tracer (hot spots).

What abnormal results mean:

Greater-than-normal absorption ("hot spots," which appear dark):

• malignant bone lesions or bone tumors
• bone cancer
• bone trauma caused by fracture
• infection
• rickets
• osteomalacia
• McCune-Albright syndrome
• Paget's disease (usually)

Less-than-normal absorption ("cool spots," which appear light):

• Paget's disease (sometimes)

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• neuroblastoma
• prostate cancer
• renal cell carcinoma