How is technetium-99m used in bone imaging?

Technetium-99m MDP Tc-99m emits 140 keV gamma rays upon decay, and these gamma rays are detected by nuclear gamma cameras to allow localizing where the Tc-99m travels within the body. For imaging bone metabolism, the radionuclide is usually attached to medronic acid (methylene diphosphonate).

What is 3 phase bone scan?

What is a Three Phase Bone Scan? A three phase bone scan is used to diagnose a fracture when it cannot be seen on an Xray. It is also used to diagnose bone infection, bone pain, osteomyelitis, as well as other bone diseases.

What is scintigraphy used for?

A procedure that produces pictures (scans) of structures inside the body, including areas where there are cancer cells. Scintigraphy is used to diagnose, stage, and monitor disease. A small amount of a radioactive chemical (radionuclide) is injected into a vein or swallowed.

Why is 99mTc used in most cases?

Technetium-99m is a widely used radioactive tracer isotope in Nuclear Medicine. It’s gamma ray energy of about 140 keV is convenient for detection. The fact that both its physical half-life and its biological half-life are very short leads to very fast clearing from the body after an imaging process.

What is the difference between a bone scan and a 3-phase bone scan?

A bone scan is a detailed, noninvasive imaging test that allows doctors to observe the inside of your bones in order to diagnose illnesses and track their progression. There are two main types of bone exams. A three-phase bone scan is a nuclear imaging test that shows how the bones process an injected agent.

Why is it called a 3-phase bone scan?

The camera takes pictures of how much radiotracer collects in the bones. If a bone scan is done to see if you have a bone infection, images may be taken shortly after the radioactive material is injected and again 3 to 4 hours later, when it has collected in the bones. This process is called a 3-phase bone scan.

What machine is used for a bone scan?

Gamma cameras and PET scanners are the 2 basic types of cameras used to image the radioactive decay from the radiotracers utilized in bone scintigraphy.

What is the purpose of a bone scan?

A bone scan is a test that can help doctors diagnose problems with your bones. It is a useful tool for finding cancer that has started in or spread to the bone. It can also help your doctor check how well treatment is working for cancer in the bone.

What are the different types of bone scans?

There are two main types of bone exams. A three-phase bone scan is a nuclear imaging test that shows how the bones process an injected agent. A DEXA bone scan is a type of X-ray that tests bone strength and density to diagnose osteoporosis.

What information is conveyed by the M in 99mTc?

What information is conveyed by the m in 99mTc? The isotope is metastable.

Why is 99mtc used in most cases?

Why is technetium used in bone scans?

Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) is one of the most commonly used tracers for SS and its mechanism of action involves a complex interaction of bone repair and blood flow. SS targets the bony cortex, binding to the hydroxyapetite produced when the bone attempts to repair damage caused by metastases.

How many types of bone scans are there?

Is 3-phase bone scan of whole body?

Finally, bone scans may include special procedures such as 3-phase imaging or SPECT imaging. It is common to perform a limited scan with 3-phase imaging when the clinical concern is a stress fracture or shin splints. In most cases, however, a whole-body bone scan is performed.

What is the difference between a bone scan and a 3 phase bone scan?

What type of scan is a bone scan?

Overview. A bone scan is a test that uses nuclear imaging to helps diagnose and track several types of bone disease. Nuclear imaging involves using small amounts of radioactive substances (radiotracers), a special camera that can detect the radioactivity and a computer to see structures such as bones inside the body.

How is bone scan performed?

During a bone scan, a radioactive substance is injected into a vein that is taken up by your bones. You’ll then be monitored for several hours. A very small amount of radiation is used in the substance, and nearly all of it is released from your body within two or three days.