What a Pediatric Bone Scan Is
A bone scan is a nuclear medicine exam in which the patient receives an injection of a radioactive substance followed by a scan of the entire skeleton. Bone scans are used to identify changes in the bone metabolism that may indicate a number of problems.
Nuclear medicine exams are unique because they provide a way to evaluate the function of various internal organs and tissues, rather than just the anatomy. Nuclear medicine scans are very safe. The patient receives a tiny amount of radioactive material so radiation exposure is minimal. The radioactive material is targeted to the specific body tissue being studied which limits exposure to other areas of the body. The energy emitted from the radioactive material is detected by a camera and used to create images which are studied by a radiologist.
RIA radiologists interpret the results of pediatric bone scans at several Denver area hospitals.