Week 4.3 Scintigraphy

Question 1

what is scintigraphy

Answer 1

it is a bone scan,

Question 2

how is scintigraphy an aspect of nuclear medicine

Answer 2

used a radioactive isotope injected IV, that is absorbed by the target tissue, and a camera will detect its distribution

Question 3

what are some other forms of nuclear medicine

Answer 3

bone scan, thyroid scan, renal scan, leukocyte scan, cardiac scan or stress test, ventilation perfusion lung scan

Question 4

a bone scan uses what

Answer 4

technetium (Tc-99m)
methylene diphosphonate (MDP)

Question 5

how do these compounds work

Answer 5

they increased uptake in areas of bone metabolisms (non-specific, so really any area with increased metabolism)

Question 6

why is it that the entire skeletal system is imaged

Answer 6

because there is a constant remodeling of the body

Question 7

darker regions mean…

Answer 7

more uptake, and more metabolism.

Question 8

difference between a hot and cold spot

Answer 8

hot is increased metabolism

cold is decreased

Question 9

why might we get the antecubital fossa and kidneys, bladder lighting up

Answer 9

because of the injection site, and the isotope is also excreted by the body in urine

Question 10

TF: bone scans are specific to the types of lesion

Answer 10

false, that is why you need further testing

Question 11

what could an area of increased uptake suggest

Answer 11

healing fractures 
open growth plates 
primary bone tumor 
metastatic tumors
stress fractures 
area of inflammation (bone around arthritis)
area of infection (hot or cold)
increased vascularity

Question 12

what could an area of decreased uptake suggest

Answer 12

avascular bone
certain metasteses (multiple myeloma)
areas of infection

Question 13

what are the 3 indications to use a bone scan

Answer 13

• stress response (fractures, suspicion if not showing on another image)
• bony metastesis (insufficiency fractures)
• evaluation for poly trauma (many fracture sites)