What does a hot spot on a bone scan mean?
The areas where the radionuclide collects are called “hot spots,” and may indicate the presence of conditions such as arthritis , malignant (cancerous) bone tumors , metastatic bone cancer (cancer which has spread from another site, such as the lungs), bone infections , bone trauma not seen on ordinary X-rays, and …
What does a spot on the bone mean?
Bone lesions are areas of bone that are changed or damaged. Causes of bone lesions include infections, fractures, or tumors. When cells within the bone start to divide uncontrollably, they are sometimes called bone tumors. Most bone lesions are benign, meaning they are not cancerous.
What does a bone scan reveal?
For instance, a bone scan shows areas of increased bone activity, such as bone metabolism, a continuous process that forms new bone and breaks down existing bone. Areas that exhibit higher-than-normal bone formation may indicate a bone fracture.
Does uptake on a bone scan mean cancer?
Defects in uptake in the bone may be seen with a number of malignancies, typically lung cancer and breast cancer and occasionally in myeloma. Also through a number of benign diseases such as haemangioma, bone infarct associated with haemoglobinopathies and fat infiltration as in Gaucher’s disease.
What do hot spots on your body mean?
noun, plural: hot spots. (1) (pathology) A superficial weeping skin lesion such as in dogs and cats caused by an incessant biting, chewing, or scratching at the surface of skin. (2) (molecular biology) A particular area of DNA that is prone to spontaneous mutation or recombination. Supplement.
What do multiple myeloma lesions look like?
The classic radiographic appearance of multiple myeloma is that of multiple, small, well-circumscribed, lytic, punched-out, round lesions within the skull, spine, and pelvis. The pattern of lytic or punched-out radiolucent lesions on the skull have been described as resembling raindrops hitting a surface and splashing.
What does cancer look like on a bone scan?
Tumors might look “ragged” instead of solid on an x-ray, or they might look like a hole in the bone. Sometimes doctors can see a tumor that might extend into nearby tissues (such as muscle or fat).
Can a human get a hot spot?
Hot spots are quite low risk for transmission to other animals or to people, although it is possible for concerning bacteria like methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) to be involved. Only a culture of the infected site can determine the bacterium that is involved.
What causes a hot spot on a bone scan?
Generally, there are two types of spots on a bone scan. Hot spots form when the radioactive material, or tracer, accumulates in areas of the bone. Cold spots form in areas where the tracer has not accumulated. Bone loss may cause cold spots, while arthritis, infections or broken bones can cause hot spots. Tumors and cancer can cause either type.
What does it mean to have hot spots on your foot?
Hot spots. Scan A shows hot spots (dark areas) in both knees, a sign of arthritis, and a possible fracture in the second toe of the right foot. Otherwise it shows normal bone metabolism. Scan B shows numerous bone hot spots, a result of cancer that has spread to multiple locations.
Why do I have hot spots on my joints?
Osteomyelitis, a type of bone infection, will also cause hot spots. The infection is typically caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, which can infect the bones as well as the joints. A person can get a bone infection when she suffers a puncture wound or broken bone. In some cases, the bacteria can enter the body when the broken bone is being treated.
What does it mean if you have hot spots on your knees?
Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics. Scan A shows hot spots (dark areas) in both knees, a sign of arthritis, and a possible fracture in the second toe of the right foot. Otherwise it shows normal bone metabolism.
