How long does a prostate bone scan take?

The scan takes 30 minutes to an hour. It is painless and you can go home after the scan. The body gets rid of the tracer through your urine over the next day. A bone scan shows up changes or abnormalities in the bones.

How is a bone scan performed?

During a bone scan, a radioactive substance is injected into a vein that is taken up by your bones. You’ll then be monitored for several hours. A very small amount of radiation is used in the substance, and nearly all of it is released from your body within two or three days.

What is the prep for a bone scan?

Generally, no prior preparation, such as fasting or sedation, is required prior to a bone scan. Notify the radiologist or technologist if you are allergic to or sensitive to medications, contrast dyes, or iodine. If you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant, you should notify your health care provider.

How long does a cancer bone scan take?

A whole-body bone scan takes about 1 hour to finish. The scan is not painful. You may feel discomfort from staying in the same position for a long time.

Do you have to take your clothes off for a bone scan?

No special preparations are needed. You may be able to remain fully clothed, depending on the area of your body being scanned. But you’ll need to remove any clothes that have metal fasteners, such as zips, hooks or buckles. In some cases, you may need to wear a gown.

What are the 3 phases of bone scan?

The procedure is painless. Your health care provider might order a three-phase bone scan, which includes a series of images taken at different times. A number of images are taken as the tracer is injected, then shortly after the injection, and again 3 to 5 hours after the injection.

Why would a urologist order a bone scan?

Bone scans may be used to see if prostate, bladder, kidney , testicular or penile cancer has advanced. Although the number of bone scans has decreased over the years, these studies are helpful in assessing advanced urologic cancers. In these studies, a radionuclide is injected into the body.

Is a bone scan claustrophobic?

A bone scan is not noisy like an MRI and is less likely to trigger claustrophobia, since you won’t be placed in an enclosed space (as you would with an MRI or CT scan). The technologist will remain in the room the entire time.

What are the side effects of a bone scan?

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.

Why do a bone scan after prostate biopsy?

Bone scan. If prostate cancer spreads to distant parts of the body, it often goes to the bones first. A bone scan can help show if cancer has reached the bones. For this test, you are injected with a small amount of low-level radioactive material, which settles in damaged areas of bone throughout the body.