The bone scan will reveal the overall density of your bones and predict the chance of a fracture. Bone scans are more sensitive for detection of bone density than simple x rays.

After your test, call the office to schedule a follow-up appointment. Dr. Stanley will explain and discuss your results at this time.

Bone mineral density scans are important to monitoring your bone health, especially as you age. Find out how this scan detects bone brittleness. There are many respiratory illnesses caused by irritants in the workplace and at home. Find out what Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS) and Irritant Induced Asthma (IIA) are and how they differ.

The Bone Density Scan can accurately predict who is at increased risk for fractures and be used to accurately follow those with osteoporosis for worsening or improvement. It can be used to guide treatment of this potentially devastating disease. The Bone Density Scan uses electron beam tomography to measure bone density. Quantitative Computed Tomography is the GOLD Standard for bone densitometry.

With normal aging, underlying medical conditions, use of medications and family history of osteoporosis/fractures, bones can weaken and fracture. The most common cause of bone weakening is osteoporosis. As the bones weaken, the probability of fractures increases. In the U.S. today, 10 million people already have the disease and 18 million more have low bone mass resulting in an increased risk for the disease and fracture. Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1-2 million fractures per year.

A bone scan is an x-ray that can show bone loss in the spine and hip area. The test takes about 10-20 minutes.

A bone graft is bone that is taken from one area and moved to another. During spinal surgery, this is done to help facilitate the fusion process. The bone graft posses certain structural and biologic properties that enhance a bony fusion of the vertebrae. Bone graft can be obtained from a patient's pelvis (autograft) or it can come from a bone bank (allograft).

Most patients who have had spinal fusion surgery do complain for some time of the bone graft donor site. The majority of these patients do not report significant discomfort after six months. There is, however, a subset of patients who chronically complain about this problem. There are not many good avenues to pursue for the full relief of this pain.

The purpose of Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant (PBSCT) in cancer treatment is to enable patients to receive safely very high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. High doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy will destroy cancer cells and some healthy cells. BMT and PBSCT replace healthy stem cells that were destroyed by these treatments.

A bone scan is very sensitive and may identify abnormalities in the bones and joints that may not yet be visible on x-rays.

It is important to be well hydrated by drinking several glasses of water or other fluids. No other preparation for the bone scan is needed.

A radioisotope tracer containing a small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein through a small needle. In some cases an initial scan will be performed immediately after the injection to determine the blood flow pattern to the part of the body being scanned. Following the injection, it takes two to three hours for the radioisotope to enter the bones. During this time you should drink several glasses of water or other fluids.

In certain instances an MRI examination may provide information similar to that obtained from a bone scan.

Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive disease that can have crippling effects on both women and men. There are 44 million men (20%) and women (80%) in the United States with either osteoporosis or low bone mass. Reduced bone strength can lead to fractures resulting in loss of mobility and independence. Osteoporosis is responsible for over 1.5 million fractures, of which 300,000 are hip fractures.

Your examination may be the easiest medical test you will experience. Certified Technologists with specialty training in bone densitometry will conduct the exam. You will be positioned on the exam table on your back while a scanner passes over one area of your skeleton, usually the lower spine and hip. You will not feel anything during the exam. Lie still. Breathe normally. Rest comfortably.

No. Although ProstaScint may localize to bone metastases, the radionuclide bone scan shows a much higher sensitivity in the evaluation of skeletal involvement.