Is a DEXA bone scan nuclear medicine?

A DEXA bone density scan is not the same as a bone scan, which is a nuclear medicine image used to detect arthritis, fractures, infections, and tumors in the bones.

What is a nuc med bone scan?

A nuclear medicine bone scan shows the effects of injury or disease (such as cancer) or infection on the bones. A nuclear medicine bone scan also shows whether there has been any improvement or deterioration in a bone abnormality after treatment.

How long does a nuclear medicine bone scan take?

A whole body bone scan takes around 3-4 hours, which includes two separate visits. In the first visit you will be given an injection of a radioactive isotope into a vein in your arm. There are no side effects to this injection. The isotope takes 2-3 hours to circulate in the blood and get absorbed in the bone.

What medications should you not take before a DEXA scan?

Eat, drink, and take any medications as you normally would. However, do not take calcium supplements or drugs that contain calcium, such as Tums, for 24 hours before your bone densitometry test.

Does a bone density test require an injection?

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.

How long are you radioactive after a bone scan?

After the test A bone scan generally has no side effects, and no follow-up care is needed. You might be asked to drink a lot of water for the next day or two to flush the tracer from your system. The radioactivity from the tracers is usually completely eliminated two days after the scan.

What is the procedure for a nuclear bone scan?

A bone scan is a nuclear medicine test. This means that the procedure uses a very small amount of a radioactive substance, called a tracer. The tracer is injected into a vein. The tracer is absorbed in different amounts and those areas are highlighted on the scan.

Can you take vitamin D before a bone density test?

If you take calcium supplements, vitamin D in pill form, and/or a multivitamin that contains calcium, stop taking these supplements 48 hours before your test to ensure accurate test results. You may take other medications.

Is there any prep for a bone density test?

Bone density tests are easy, fast and painless. Virtually no preparation is needed. Be sure to tell your doctor beforehand if you’ve recently had a barium exam or had contrast material injected for a CT scan or nuclear medicine test.

Can I take vitamin D before bone density?