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Alternative names Return to top
Skeletal surveyDefinition Return to top
A skeletal X-ray is used to detect fractures, tumors, or degenerative conditions of the bone.How the test is performed Return to top
The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider’s office by an X-ray technician. You are asked to position the bone to be X-rayed on the table, or stand in different positions depending on the X-ray being taken. The pictures are then taken, repositioning the bone for different views.How to prepare for the test Return to top
Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant. You must remove all jewelry.How the test will feel Return to top
The X-rays themselves are painless; however, repositioning the bone(s) may be uncomfortable. Since the entire body is being evaluated, the test usually takes an hour or more.Why the test is performed Return to top
A skeletal survey X-ray is used to detect fractures, metastasis (cancer that has spread to other areas of the body), osteomyelitis, and after a trauma (such as an auto accident), or in degenerative conditions of the bone. It is often used in children where abuse is suspected.What abnormal results mean Return to top
Abnormal findings include fractures, bone tumors, degenerative bone conditions, and osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone caused by an infection).What the risks are Return to top
There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits.
Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of the X-ray. A protective shield may be worn over areas not being scanned.
Update Date: 10/17/2003 Updated by: Jeffrey Brown, M.D., Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |