what is the difference between a bone scan and bone density?
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Bone density tests differ from bone scans. Bone scans require an injection beforehand and are usually used to detect fractures, cancer, infections and other abnormalities in the bone. Although osteoporosis is more common in older women, men also can develop the condition.
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Full Body Bone Scan is a nuclear imaging test that helps diagnose and track several types of bone disease using tiny amounts of radioactive materials called tracers (radionuclides). These tracers accumulate in certain organs and tissues, such as bones.
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CT scans utilize X-rays to produce images of the inside of the body while MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses powerful magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses to produce detailed pictures of organs and other internal body structures. CT scans use radiation (X-rays), and MRIs do not.
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Not all DEXA Scanners are the same All DEXA scanners should have sufficient resolution and accuracy to identify the risk factors for osteoporosis.
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In osteoporosis, the bones are porous and brittle, whereas in osteomalacia, the bones are soft. This difference in bone consistency is related to the mineral-to-organic material ratio.
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Osteopenia is considered a midway point to osteoporosis; the bone density is lower than normal but not as severe and treating it may slow the progression bone loss that leads to osteoporosis. Bone mineral density (BMD) measures the level of calcium in the bones.
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Sites of muscle or other soft tissue infarction or necrosis may show focal uptake on the bone scan. The main problem is the distinction between degenerative change and malignancy in the spine.
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The bone scan itself is usually painless and is rarely associated with significant discomfort or side effects. No anesthesia is needed for skeletal scintigraphy, and sedation is rarely necessary. The test may be uncomfortable if you are having joint or bone pain.
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Depending on the reason for the bone scan, your doctor may begin imaging immediately. As the substance spreads through your body, the bone's cells naturally gravitate to areas that need repair. The substance's radioactive tracers follow these cells and collect in spots where bone is damaged.
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Differences in CT and PET Testing CT scans provide clear images of bones and can detect abnormalities in soft tissues; PET scans provide images of biological processes within the body. Think of it as CT scans show the structures, while PET scans show how the organs and tissues within the structures work.
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Big bones don't mean (much) extra weight Some people might confuse bone size with bone density, which refers to the concentration of minerals in your bones. Like large bones, dense bones may add only a few pounds to your frame.
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Perhaps the main difference between a CT scan and a PET scan is their focus. A CT scan creates a detailed non-moving image of organs, bones and tissues. A PET scan, on the other hand, shows doctors how the tissues in your body work on a cellular level.
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Bone scans are used primarily to detect the spread of metastatic cancer. Because cancer cells multiply rapidly, they will appear as a hot spot on a bone scan. This is due to the increased bone metabolism and bone repair in the area of the cancer cells.
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The Nuclear Medicine Parathyroid Scan is an exam to determine the function and health of the parathyroid gland which regulates calcium uptake in the body. Nuclear Medicine scans are performed using very small amounts of radioactive material. The radioactive material is usually bound to other non-radioactive elements.
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Bone density testing can be done in several ways. The most common and accurate way uses a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. DEXA uses low-dose x-rays. (You receive more radiation from a chest x-ray.)
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CT scans can detect bone and joint problems, like complex bone fractures and tumors. If you have a condition like cancer, heart disease, emphysema, or liver masses, CT scans can spot it or help doctors see any changes.
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X-Ray Scan Definition. An x-ray scan, also called radiography, is a diagnostic imaging technique that produces images of bones, providing clear detail of the bony structure.