Bone Scan
A bone scan is a nuclear medicine study used to look for areas of unusual bone activity.
When to get help quickly: Bone scans are not usually emergency tests, but they can become time-sensitive when doctors are trying to stage cancer, find an infection, or explain persistent unexplained bone pain.
Common symptoms
Doctors may request a bone scan for ongoing bone pain, unexplained pain in the spine or foot, concern about hidden fractures, possible bone infection, or to check whether cancer has spread to bone.
When imaging helps
It helps when the question is about bone activity rather than just bone shape, especially if pain is persistent but a regular X-ray is unclear or when cancer spread is being assessed.
What radiology does
It may help detect spread of cancer, infection, fractures, loosening around joint prostheses, or other bone problems.
What usually happens next
Its findings often guide whether more focused imaging, biopsy, cancer treatment, or orthopedic care is needed.
Need this done?
See which centers in Lagos offer it.
Related articles
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- Whole-Body MRI and PET-CT in Cancer CareWhole-body MRI and PET-CT show different kinds of information. Neither is a general cancer check for everyone.
Related scan guides
- Bone ScanA bone scan is a nuclear medicine test that helps doctors look for changes in bone activity. It is often used for unexplained bone pain, infection, fractures, or to check whether cancer has spread to the bones.
- Whole-Body ScanA whole-body scan is a nuclear medicine test that looks across much of the body for abnormal tracer uptake. In many patient settings, it refers to a whole-body bone scan used to assess bone activity throughout the skeleton.
- Bone BiopsyA bone biopsy uses imaging guidance to sample a bone lesion for pathology or microbiology; targeting improves precision but cannot guarantee a diagnostic result.