Bone Scintigraphy Whole Body Bone Scan

Overview

Bone scans use technetium labeled phosphonates to detect increased osteoblastic activity across the skeleton with high sensitivity.

Technique

Planar and SPECT acquisitions with appropriate timing after tracer injection identify focal uptake patterns.

Clinical Uses

Metastatic disease screening occult fracture detection and infection and inflammation assessment.

Limitations and Safety

Low specificity. Correlation with other imaging and clinical data is required.

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography SPECT

Overview

SPECT acquires gamma emissions from radiotracers to reconstruct three dimensional functional images often combined with CT for localization.

Technique

Collimator choice acquisition orbit and reconstruction parameters influence resolution and sensitivity.

Clinical Uses

Cardiac perfusion imaging bone scans infection imaging and certain neurologic studies.

Limitations and Safety

Lower spatial resolution than PET. Radiotracer selection and timing affect diagnostic yield.