Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Anybody know how to read a bone scan?

Hi,
I had a bone scan done a few weeks ago and was able to get a copy of the results. I was told that it was a normal scan. Any opinions?
Thanks,
Marcat (Mary)
btw, it is a radionuclide scan, not a bone density scan.

I can not see them well enough, but when my SI's were inflammed and I was in the hospital not knowing what was wrong my sed rate was in the 80's and I couldn't walk. Finally they did a bone scan and my SI joints lit up like a light bulb there was no question.

Why did they do a bone scan? Was there an area that was hurting, or did the Dr. just want to do one. A bone scan is the easiest way to find inflammation in the body.

Hopefully some others will have some information for you also.

Hugs,

Lisa

Hi Mary

My bone scan had a report attached to it by the radiologist or a Dr that interpreted the scan. mine did not come back normal

hope this helps

Kylie

I was told my nuclear bone scan was normal as well... my physical therapists gave me the verdict and said the radiologist said 'normal scan, no signs of osteoperosis' or something like that. So it makes me think they were not looking at it properly. This was thru the VA system ans it is completely normal for them to screw it all up just because they can...

Like Lisa, I had mine done when I couldn't even walk. My right SI lit up like a christmas tree, and my left was cool as a cucumber. Since there were huge differences from the right and left sides in a bunch of joints, I don't think it was a tough call for the radiologist.

Hi Lisa,
My SED rate was 50 and my hs-CRP was 74.5 in early November, the last time it was checked. I think I'm in fairly early stages of AS (I don't have a firm diagnosis yet), and I also have joint hypermobility, which I think has protected my joints for years.
This past spring/summer I had Iritis, followed by muscle weakness, fatigue and difficulty walking (hyper reflexses in legs and ankle clonus) followed by thoracic back pain. When I had x-rays of my back in late July, the report said: "minor mechanical degenerative at several of the mid thoracic levels as shown by small osteophytes on adjacent vertebral bodies. There is minor mid thoracic rotoscoliosis convex to the right....I would recommend considering a radionuclide bone scan for further evaluation."
So that is why I had the bone scan done. Strangely enough, the person that did the bone scan said: "Unremarkable whole body bone scan. No abnormal uptake is identified at the level of the thoracic spine. If there is clinical concern or a possible lesion or disc disease or possible disc herniation at this level and MRI would be more helpful for further evaluation."
So... it is strange that nothing shows up on the bone scan. Weird!
I'm scheduled for an MRI at the end of February. Maybe something will show up on that. In the meantime, it hurts a lot to sit in chairs.
Thanks for your reply.
Marcat (Mary)

Hi Kylie,
I did see the report that came back, and it did say it was a normal scan. I just thought it was interesting that the parts of my body that hurt (my spine and hips) looked brighter and wondered if other people had seen similar results in a normal scan.
How long have you had AS?
Thanks for your reply.
Marcat (Mary)

Hi Trudi,
It's hard to believe you can have so much pain and yet so little shows up on the scan!!!
Marcat (Mary)