On the other hand, nuclear scans can locate areas of altered function. That is, they can tell us whether the organ is working properly. For example, with a bone scan, abnormalities are apparent weeks or months before they appear on X-rays. On the X-ray one might see that the bone isn't broken, but on the bone scan, physicians can diagnose metabolic changes caused by small tumors, fine fractures, or degenerative diseases such as arthritis. Bone scans are used to detect diseases of the bone at the earliest possible time.
Bone scans are often more sensitive than x-rays in diagnosing infections, tumors, and fractures.
You will receive an injection of a radioactive substance in a vein in your arm. This material travels through the bloodstream, into the soft tissue, eventually localizing in the bones. You will not feel anything from this injection. We may take some images during the injection to evaluate the blood flow to a particular area where you may be having pain. The bone scan itself will be done three hours after injection.