Nuclear Medicine Three Phase Bone Scans a.k.a. Tri-Phase Bone Scans

Nuclear Medicine Three Phase Bone Scans a.k.a. Tri-Phase Bone Scans

From The Desk Of Marcus R Hall

Nuclear Medicine Three Phase Bone Scans are done primarily to detect bone infections, stress fractures, and evaluate pathological processes involving the bone.

A Three Phase Bone Scan is done in a similar fashion as a Bone Scan with exception to imaging being done at three times during the progression of the study.

The Blood Flow Portion of the study. Imaging is done as the radiopharmaceutical is administered intravenously to the patient.  This is done to visualize and evaluate a balanced blood through the area of interest.  Generally, this involves the extremities of the patient i.e., blood flow to the feet or hands.

Three Phase Bone Blood Flow

The Blood Flow a.k.a. Bone Flow, is generally completed within 2  minutes of  receiving the administration of the radiopharmaceutical. The blood flow portion of the exam is not interpreted until the entire study is completed.

The Blood Pool portion of the Three Phase Bone Scan follows the Blood Flow portion of the scan.

The Blood Pool portion of the scan is to document redness and swelling in the area of interest. Images are taken generally 10 - 15 minutes after the administration of the radiopharmaceutical.

Nuclear Medicine Blood Pool Images

Following the Blood Pool portion of the scan; the patient is generally released for a few hours, and asked to force fluids to flush the soft tissues, so just bones are visible on their return.

On the patients return images are taken of the area of interest; this is generally a thirty minute imaging session.  Don't become alarmed if the technologist takes images at multiple angles or views.

Nuclear Medicine Delay Bone Images

Upon completion of the study, a Physician trained in interpreting Nuclear Medicine Procedures will report to your requesting Physician the result of the scan.

The purpose of this blog post is purely informational for patients; it is not meant to serve as medical advice. This is just a short informational blurb to let patients have an understanding as to what they may experience in the performance of their exam. There may be slight variations in the procedure between facilities. These variations don't make one facility right, nor one wrong; just different...yielding the same results.

My Doctor Has Ordered A Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan - Why and What For?

My Doctor Has Ordered A Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan - Why and What For?

From The Desk Of Marcus R Hall

Nuclear Medicine Bone Scans are done to determine bone damage due to physical or pathological trauma.

Photo compliments of Wikipedia

Nuclear Medicine Bone Scans allow Clinicians to image the actual physiological function of the bone, and document it with images and statistical data stored on a computer or films.

The skeletal system is always in a constant state of repair replacing dead or dying bone cells to maintain the skeleton.  This repair uses crystals on the surface of the bone where normal maintenance is taking place, in areas of bone damage the crystals are more concentrated.

Clinicians can "tag" or attach a radioactive pharmaceutical to these pre-bone crystals. The radioactive isotope in the pharmaceutical releases energy that they can be seen and imaged using a special Nuclear Medicine Camera.

The Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan Begins With A Radioactive Injection.

The procedure begins with the patient reporting to a Nuclear Medicine Department licensed to perform these exams, with specially trained Physician's who interpret the exams.

The patient receives an intravenous injection of a radioactive phosphate that attaches itself to the patients pre-bone repair crystals.  

In order to see the bones approximately three hours later ... it is necessary to flush the remaining injection circulating through the circulatory system, soft tissue, muscles, and skin. 

The patient will be asked to force fluids, utilizing the patent's  kidneys to flush out the excess injection.

Following the flushing out period which can vary between facilities dependent on the exact radiopharmaceutical administered to the patient. The patient will return to the facility for the imaging portion of the study.

Imaging takes place with a Nuclear Medicine Camera, which can see and record the flashes of energy released by the bone scan injection; which is now attached to the crystals that are repairing the bone.

A Nuclear Medicine Dual Head Gamma Camera

Photo Compliments of Wikipedia

The imaging process may be of an individual area of interest, or may include the entire body.
Don't get too concerned if the Technologist takes images at different angles of positions... it doesn't necessarily mean there is anything wrong.  To do the exam correctly, they just need to be thorough.

A Physician trained in Nuclear Medicine will interpret your exam results, and report them back to your requesting Physician.

The purpose of this blog post is purely informational for patients; it is not meant to serve as medical advice. This is just a short informational blurb to let patients have an understanding as to what they may experience in the performance of their exam. There may be slight variations in the procedure between facilities. These variations don't make one facility right, nor one wrong; just different...yielding the same results.