A technetium scan is a very useful diagnostic method. Read to know more about it…
In layman’s term, a technetium bone scan is nothing but a simple bone scan with the use of technetium as a tracer. Doctors carry out bone scans when they want to find any infection or tumor or any kind of small fracture that cannot be seen either with the help of an X-ray or other tests. The doctors put in a small, harmless amount of radioactive tracer in your body, and after sometime, you are asked to undergo a scan. The tracer gets collected in areas with a high bone turnover. Due to this, doctors can easily detect the presence of any tumor or fracture.
Reasons for Using Technetium
Technetium was discovered in 1936. The term is derived from the Greek word “technetos“, which mean ‘artificial’. It was the first chemical element produced synthetically. This element is used as a tracer in bone scans, as it can detect tiny tumors or fractures. This is possible because it gives out 140 keV gamma rays, which can be easily detected.
Three-phase Scan
Before the scan, it’s not necessary for you to fast. You can eat or drink before the scan, but make sure to empty our bladder before undergoing the scan. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are suffering from any medical problems, you should inform your doctor.
First, the doctor will inject the technetium into the patient’s body. Usually, it is injected in the arm of the patient. Whatever amount is injected, half of that element will be used to trace out any problems in the bones; the other half will be excreted through urine. The tracer then saturates in the places where there is a problem. This will take some time. After a few hours, the doctor can read the result from the scanned images. The scanned images are made after every 5 hours after the tracer has been injected.
So now that you know how the scan is done, you will find it easier if the doctor carries out the scan on you. It is a safe and reliable method. Just follow all the instructions carefully and it will go smoothly.
