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.
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