Accuracy of Bone Scan Vs. CT Scan

To diagnose medical problems, doctors often use images obtained from a bone scan or CT scan. While these scans have similar functions, they are quite different in terms of procedure, performance and accuracy.

Purpose

• A bone scan is used to visualize the bones in the body and locate any bone abnormalities. A CT scan can diagnose muscle and bone disorders, tumors, infections, blood clots and internal injuries and detect and monitor certain diseases.

Procedure

• With a bone scan, the patient will be injected with a small amount of radioactive material, called "tracers." Once the bones absorb these tracers, a scan of the skeleton will be done. A CT scan sometimes uses a contrast media that is absorbed by the tissues in the body. The scan will then be done with the use of X-rays that turn the signals into a three-dimensional image.

Bone Accuracy

• While bone scans provide a detailed picture of the bones and any bone problems, they are often unable to pinpoint the specific cause of the problem. The CT scan is able to provide a detailed and accurate view of the bones in the body, and is often able to locate the cause of the problem.

Tissue Accuracy

• Unfortunately, the bone scan can only evaluate bone problems; it cannot be used to diagnose tissue or organ problems. A CT scan provides extensively detailed pictures of all parts of the body, including body organs and blood vessels.

Overall Accuracy

• Both the bone scan and the CT scan provide an accurate view of the scanned area of the body. The CT scan provides a more detailed picture and can be used for a wider variety of problems.