17642 Whole Body Bone Scan

Overview

A whole body bone scan is a picture test that shows how your bones are working across your entire skeleton. A tiny amount of a safe radioactive tracer (a weak, short-lived substance that acts like a marker) is injected into a vein in your arm. The tracer travels through your blood and settles in your bones. A few hours later, a special camera moves slowly over your body and takes pictures. Areas where bone is repairing itself or changing take up more tracer and show up as 'hot spots'. A bone scan is different from an X-ray: an X-ray shows what bone looks like, while a bone scan shows how bone is behaving. It can spot some problems earlier than a plain X-ray.

Yes. A whole body bone scan is a routine test carried out in hospital imaging departments. Many people have one every day, usually because of bone pain, an injury, an infection, or as part of checking how well a treatment is working.

Anyone can be asked to have a bone scan, from young children to very elderly adults. It is most often used in adults being checked for unexplained bone pain, a possible spread of cancer to the bones, a bone infection, or a hidden fracture. In children it is usually done to look into an unexplained limp, bone pain, or a suspected infection.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Bone pain that keeps going, especially if it is in one spot and an X-ray has not shown a clear reason
• Pain in the back, hips, ribs, or long bones that your doctor wants to look at more closely
• A suspected fracture that is hard to see on a normal X-ray, such as a stress fracture from sport or repeated activity
• A known cancer being checked to see whether it has spread to the bones
• A bone infection being looked for, or watched over time
• Joint replacement or metalwork being checked because of new pain or loosening
• Unexplained fever or blood test results that point to a bone problem
• Follow-up of a bone condition that has already been found, to see how it is changing

Symptoms in children

• A limp or refusing to walk or use an arm, with no clear cause
• Bone pain that wakes a child at night or stops them joining in normal play
• A suspected bone infection or inflammation after a fever
• Follow-up after a fracture or a known bone condition
• A parent or carer can usually stay close by, and staff are used to helping children feel calm during the test

Symptoms in older adults

• New or worsening back, hip, or rib pain, especially with a history of cancer
• A fracture after a minor fall that is not clear on X-ray
• Pain around an old joint replacement or metal plate
• More time may be needed to lie still on the scanning bed, and staff can help with pillows and support
• Kidney function matters because the tracer leaves the body in urine, so your team may check blood tests first

Causes

Main causes

• A bone scan is a test, not an illness, so there is no single 'cause'. Doctors ask for one to look for conditions such as arthritis, fractures, bone infection, bone inflammation, Paget's disease of bone (a condition where bone breaks down and rebuilds too quickly), or cancer that has spread to the bones.
• It is also used to see how a known bone problem is changing over time or how well treatment is working.
• Sometimes it is done when symptoms and other tests do not give a clear answer, because it can look at the whole skeleton in one go.

Risk factors

• A previous cancer diagnosis, particularly breast, prostate, lung, kidney, or thyroid cancer
• Ongoing bone or joint pain that has not been explained by other tests
• A recent injury, repetitive strain, or a lot of high-impact sport
• A joint replacement or metal implants
• Conditions that affect bone strength, such as kidney disease or hormone problems
• A family history of bone conditions
• Age — some bone conditions become more common as people get older

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• New, severe bone pain, or pain that is getting worse quickly
• Bone pain together with unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or feeling very tired
• New back pain if you have had cancer in the past
• A bone that looks deformed, or you cannot put weight on a limb after an injury
• Fever with bone pain or swelling, or a hot, swollen joint
• Pain that is worse at rest or wakes you at night

Book a routine appointment if:

• Bone or joint pain that has lasted more than a few weeks or keeps coming back
• Pain that has not improved after rest and simple over-the-counter pain relief
• A suspected stress fracture from sport or repetitive activity
• Questions about a bone scan you have been offered, or worries about the radiation or the tracer
• Results from a recent scan that you would like explained

Diagnosis

The bone scan is itself the test, so there is nothing to 'diagnose' about having it. The scan is requested by a doctor and reported by a specialist doctor called a radiologist (a doctor trained in reading scans). They look at the pattern of hot spots and compare it with your symptoms, your medical history, and any other tests. A single hot spot does not tell the whole story — the pattern across the skeleton is what matters. You will usually get the results from the doctor who referred you, often within one to two weeks.

Tests that may be done

• A short conversation and checklist before the scan, covering pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergies, and recent scans
• A blood test to check kidney function, because the tracer leaves the body through urine
• A pregnancy test for some people, as a precaution
• The bone scan itself: an injection, a waiting period of around 2 to 4 hours, then pictures of the whole body
• Sometimes extra 'spot' pictures of one area, taken from different angles
• Other imaging such as X-ray, CT, MRI, or ultrasound if more detail is needed
• Blood tests or a biopsy if the scan shows something that needs confirming

What to expect at your appointment

On the day, you check in and a radiographer (a trained imaging professional) explains the test. You have a small injection into a vein in your arm or hand. This is the only needle, and it feels like a brief sting. Then you are free to leave the department for 2 to 4 hours. You will be asked to drink plenty of water and to empty your bladder just before the pictures. When you come back, you lie on a flat bed, fully clothed or in a gown, and the camera passes slowly over your body for around 30 to 60 minutes. You need to stay still, but you can breathe normally and you can ask for a pillow or a blanket. The machine is open and does not make loud noises. Afterward you can go home and eat and drink as normal. The hospital will give you simple advice about washing your hands after using the toilet and keeping a little distance from pregnant women and very young children for the rest of the day.

Treatment

A bone scan does not treat anything — it gives your doctor the information they need to choose the right care. What happens next depends entirely on what the scan shows. Many people are reassured and need nothing more than rest, physiotherapy, or simple pain relief. Others may need treatment for an infection, a fracture, arthritis, or a cancer plan. Your doctor will explain the findings in plain words and talk through the options with you.

Self-care at home

• Drink plenty of water on the day of the scan and in the hours afterward to help the tracer leave your body
• Empty your bladder just before your pictures, as a full bladder can blur the images
• Wash your hands well after using the toilet for the rest of the day
• Follow any local advice from the imaging team about close contact with pregnant women, babies, and young children
• Bring a book, phone, or something to do during the waiting period, and ask whether you can leave the hospital and come back
• Tell staff if you are pregnant, think you might be, or are breastfeeding, before the injection
• Keep any pain or new symptoms noted so you can tell your doctor at your follow-up

Medical treatments

Treatment is aimed at whatever the scan finds, not at the scan itself. Depending on the results, your doctor may suggest physiotherapy and a graded exercise plan, pain-relief medicines chosen for you, antibiotics if there is a bone infection, treatment to strengthen bone, or a plan agreed with a specialist team such as orthopaedics or oncology. If you have a long-term condition, you may be offered regular check-ups or repeat scans to watch how things are going. Your healthcare team will explain the benefits and possible side effects of any option so you can decide together.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is only considered if the scan shows a problem that needs it — for example some fractures, a badly infected bone, a worn joint replacement, or certain bone tumours. Most people who have a bone scan never need an operation. If surgery is suggested, your team will explain why, what it involves, and what the alternatives are.

Living with this condition

For most people, having a bone scan changes very little day to day. You can usually drive yourself home, go back to work, and eat normally afterward. The main thing is the wait for results, which many people find the hardest part. Try to keep to your normal routine, and plan something enjoyable for the day of the scan so the waiting time feels less long. If you are having scans regularly to monitor a condition, it can help to keep a simple diary of your symptoms and questions so you feel prepared each time.

Lifestyle tips

• Keep active within what feels comfortable — gentle walking and stretching help most bone and joint pain
• Build strength and balance with activities you enjoy, which helps protect your bones
• Avoid smoking and keep alcohol within recommended limits, as both affect bone health
• Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D from food and sunlight, and ask your doctor if you might need a supplement
• Take extra care to prevent falls at home — good lighting, no loose rugs, and handrails where needed
• Bring a list of your medicines and any allergies to every appointment

Diet and exercise

Eat a balanced diet with plenty of calcium-rich foods such as milk, yoghurt, cheese, leafy greens, and tinned fish with soft bones. Vitamin D helps your body use calcium, and short time in the sun plus foods like oily fish and eggs can help. Weight-bearing exercise — walking, dancing, or light resistance work — helps keep bones strong, and balance exercises reduce the risk of falls. If you have a fracture, an infection, or a condition affecting your bones, ask your doctor or physiotherapist what is safe for you before starting something new.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Waiting for scan results can be an anxious time, and it is completely normal to feel worried, distracted, or sleepless. You may also feel relieved, or a mix of both. Talking to someone you trust helps, and so does writing your questions down. If worry is affecting your sleep, appetite, or mood for more than a couple of weeks, please tell your doctor — support such as talking therapy is available and can make a real difference. If you ever feel you cannot cope or have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your local emergency number or a crisis service in your area straight away, and reach out to someone you trust.

Prevention

You cannot prevent needing a bone scan, because it is a test rather than an illness. What you can do is prepare well: tell staff about pregnancy, breastfeeding, or allergies, follow the drinking and bladder advice, and arrive early enough to settle in. Looking after your bone health generally — staying active, eating well, not smoking, and reducing fall risks — can lower your chance of fractures and other bone problems later on.

Screening programmes

Bone scans are not used as a routine screening test for healthy people with no symptoms. They are used when there is a specific reason, or sometimes to monitor a condition that has already been diagnosed. If you have a condition that affects your bones, ask your doctor whether monitoring scans are right for you and how often.

Complications

If left untreated

• If the underlying problem is not looked into, bone pain or a fracture may go on causing discomfort and limiting what you can do
• A bone infection that is not found and treated can damage bone over time
• A hidden fracture may not heal in the right position, which can affect how a limb works
• If cancer has spread to the bones and is not identified, treatment cannot be planned early, when it is often most effective
• Ongoing worry about unexplained symptoms can affect sleep, mood, and daily life

Long-term outlook

The outlook is generally very good. A bone scan is a quick, low-risk test, and most people are either reassured or found to have a common problem that can be treated. The tracer leaves your body within about a day, and serious reactions to it are very rare. Whatever your results show, having a clear answer means you and your healthcare team can make a plan together — and there is support available at every step.

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