What are white spots on a bone scan?

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 is bright white on x-ray?

Solid or dense objects (such as bones) absorb radiation easily, so they appear bright white on the image. Soft tissues (such as organs) don’t absorb radiation as easily, so they appear in shades of gray on the X-ray.

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 do hotspots look like on a bone scan?

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.

What are white spots on a chest X-ray?

Chest x-ray: An x-ray exam will allow your doctor to see your lungs, heart and blood vessels to help determine if you have pneumonia. When interpreting the x-ray, the radiologist will look for white spots in the lungs (called infiltrates) that identify an infection.

How do you know if a bone lesion is cancerous?

In addition to pain, some cancerous bone lesions can cause stiffness, swelling, or tenderness in the affected area. The pain may come and go and may be worse or better at night. Not all people will experience these symptoms but may instead notice a painless mass somewhere on their body.

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 does a spot in the lung mean?

A spot on the lung, which is also referred to as a lung or pulmonary nodule, could be an early indication of cancer. However, this is not usually the case. The appearance of a lung spot on an X-ray is quite common and usually indicates a benign condition.

What do lung nodules look like on CT scan?

Lung nodules — small masses of tissue in the lung — are quite common. They appear as round, white shadows on a chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan. Lung nodules are usually about 0.2 inch (5 millimeters) to 1.2 inches (30 millimeters) in size.

Are most bone lesions benign?

Most bone lesions are benign, meaning they are not cancerous or life-threatening. There are also some diseases and conditions that resemble bone lesions. Causes of benign bone lesions include: non-ossifying fibroma.