A bone scan is also called bone scintigraphy.
A bone scan, or bone scintigraphy, is a nuclear medicine imaging technique used to visualize the bones and detect abnormalities. The process involves injecting a small amount of radioactive material, called a radiopharmaceutical, into the patient's bloodstream. This material then accumulates in areas of the bones with increased metabolic activity, such as areas of injury, infection, or tumor growth. A special camera then detects the radiation emitted from these areas, creating an image of the bones. This image can help doctors diagnose a variety of bone conditions.
