What Can a Bone Scan Tell a Neurologist?

A bone scan can help your neurologist (a physician specially trained to treat nervous system disorders) detect spinal problems. Examples of spinal problems a bone scan can help your doctor pinpoint are fractures, osteoarthritis and infections.

Function

• Bone scans help your neurologist diagnose the location or cause of unexplained bone pain. A bone scan also helps your doctor determine the location of abnormal bones in intricate bone structures such as your spine or feet.

Identification

• A bone scan is a nuclear scanning test. It helps a neurologist identify new areas of bone growth or decay. Bone scans can be performed to help your doctor evaluate damage done to your bones.

Significance

• Dark or "cold" spots on your scanning test can indicate to your neurologist that you have cancer. Bright or "hot" spots can indicate the presences of a tumor, fracture, infection or arthritis.

Benefits

• Bone scans also help your neurologist find cancer associated with other parts of your body that has metastasized (or spread) to your bones. Bone scans can enable a neurologist to monitor bone trauma and infection.

Time Frame

• Bone scans can tell your neurologist about bone-related problems you have days to months earlier than a normal X-ray test can. Bone scan results are available within two days.