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CSC DiagnositicsBone Scan TestsA bone scan can be used to locate the problem area of the spine. The bone scan works by injecting a radioactive chemical, sometimes called a "tracer", into the bloodstream through an IV. The chemical will attach itself to any areas of bone that are undergoing rapid changes. A special camera takes pictures of the area of the skeleton where the problem lies. Problem areas will show up as dark areas on the film. This is because the chemical tracer travels to spot where the problem lies. Over a period of several hours, the tracer accumulates in the area of increased cellular activity which may correlate to fracture, arthritis, tumor, or infection sites. The chemical tracer is radioactive, which emits radiation that is captured by the camera. The film produced by the camera identifies the "hotspots" or specific problem areas. A bone scan is very useful when it is unclear exactly where the problem is in the skeleton. The ability to take a picture that highlights a problem area helps direct the doctor in the diagnostic work-up. After locating the problem areas, other tests can be done to show more aspects of those specific spots. The bone scan can identify problem areas such as bone tumors and compression fractures. A bone scan can also be used to determine bone density and the bone-thinning condition of osteopenia or osteoporosis.Click Here for more Information Examples: (Click image to enlarge)
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