Reference Terms
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bone scan
Bone imaging is a study to visually detect bone abnormalities. Such imaging studies include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray computed tomography (CT) and especially nuclear medicine. In the latter case the patient is injected with a small amount of radioactive material such as 600 MBq of technetium-99m-MDP and then scanned with a Gamma camera, a device sensitive to the radiation emitted by the injected material.
About half of the radioactive material is localized by the bones. The more active the bone turnover, the more radioactive material will be seen. Some tumors, fractures and infections show up as areas of increased uptake. Others can cause decreased uptake of radioactive material.
About half of the radioactive material leaves the body through the kidneys and bladder in urine.
The period from injection to completion can last over 4 hours. Actual images are taken for about 30 to 70 minutes. Sometimes late images are taken at 24 hours after injection.
Pregnant patients should consult with a physician before consenting to radioactive injections.
Related Stories
1
2
Health & Medicine News
May 15, 2026
May 15, 2026 Cannabis use among older adults is rising fast, but today’s marijuana is far more potent than many people realize — and experts warn the risks may be underestimated. Stanford Medicine specialists ...
May 15, 2026 Scientists have uncovered a surprising dark side to vitamin B2: it may help cancer cells stay alive. The vitamin supports a cellular shield that protects tumors from ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death linked to cancer suppression. In lab ...
May 15, 2026 Scientists have uncovered evidence that serotonin — the same brain chemical boosted by many antidepressants — may actually worsen tinnitus. Using advanced light-based brain stimulation in mice, researchers identified a serotonin-driven circuit ...
May 15, 2026 Researchers analyzing over 20,000 patients found that very high levels of the inherited cholesterol particle Lp(a) dramatically raise the risk of stroke, cardiovascular death, and major heart ...
May 15, 2026 A casual conversation between graduate students helped spark a breakthrough in aging research at Mayo Clinic. Researchers discovered that tiny synthetic DNA molecules called aptamers can selectively attach to senescent “zombie cells,” which are ...
May 15, 2026 A groundbreaking Swedish study that tracked people for nearly 50 years has revealed when the body’s physical decline quietly begins. Researchers found that fitness, strength, and muscle endurance start slipping around age 35, with the decline ...
May 14, 2026 Colorectal cancer is increasingly showing up in younger adults, with cases now appearing in people as young as their thirties — often with no family history or warning signs. A major Swiss study analyzing nearly 100,000 cases over four decades ...
May 14, 2026 A daily multivitamin may help slow biological aging, according to researchers studying older adults in a large clinical trial. After two years, participants taking multivitamins showed slower aging in several DNA-based “epigenetic clocks,” with ...
May 14, 2026 Scientists analyzing the genomes of thousands of people across Japan discovered evidence for a previously overlooked third ancestral group, challenging the long-accepted “dual origins” theory. The newly identified ancestry appears linked to the ...
May 13, 2026 UC Davis researchers created brand-new psychedelic-like compounds by shining UV light on amino acid-based molecules. These compounds activated key serotonin receptors tied to brain plasticity and mental health benefits, but surprisingly did not ...
May 13, 2026 A huge long-term study found that drinking two to three cups of coffee a day was linked to a much lower risk of dementia, especially before age 75. Researchers say caffeine may help keep brain cells active while reducing inflammation and harmful ...
May 13, 2026 Researchers have uncovered unexpectedly high levels of silicone-based pollutants called methylsiloxanes floating through the atmosphere across cities, rural regions, and even forests. Much of the pollution appears to come from vehicle emissions, ...
Latest Headlines
updated 12:56 pm ET
May 13, 2026 The little pauses, “ums,” and moments when you struggle to find the right word may reveal far more about your brain than anyone realized. Researchers discovered that everyday speech patterns are ...
May 12, 2026 Scientists at UBC Okanagan have uncovered how plants produce mitraphylline, a rare natural compound with promising anti cancer potential. The team identified two enzymes that work together to build ...
May 12, 2026 Scientists at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, have uncovered a crucial trick used by enteroviruses—the group behind diseases like polio, myocarditis, encephalitis, and even the common ...
May 12, 2026 Researchers found a new way to kill harmful “zombie” cells that linger after chemotherapy and help cancers become more aggressive. These senescent cells survive by relying on a protective protein ...
May 12, 2026 As blood stem cells age, their lysosomes become overactive and damaged, triggering inflammation and weakening the body’s ability to regenerate ...
May 12, 2026 A four-week diet change was enough to make some older adults appear biologically younger in a new University of Sydney study. Participants who ...
May 12, 2026 Scientists at McGill University have uncovered a hidden molecular “switch” that turns on a powerful calorie-burning system in brown fat — the body’s heat-generating fat linked to metabolism ...
May 11, 2026 Staying strong may be one of the biggest secrets to living longer — especially for older women. A major study of more than 5,000 women found that simple signs of muscle strength, like a firm hand ...
May 11, 2026 An ancient Chinese exercise routine may be just as powerful as a daily brisk walk for lowering blood pressure — without equipment, gyms, or intense workouts. In a major clinical trial, adults with ...
May 11, 2026 Researchers say fructose is not just “empty calories” — it may actively push the body toward fat storage and metabolic disease. A new review ...