Bone scan for density vs. mets (need info)

[tousled1]

If you are having a bone scan, it is a test that is checking for mets to the bones and is completely different than a bone density test. With a bone scan you are injected with a radioactive dye and then scanned.

A bone density test checks for osteoporosis and not mets. A bone density test can be done at your primary care physician's office if he has the equipment (mine does) and takes about 3 minutes. With a bone density test you just sort of lay on a table and certain areas of your body are measured by a machine - no dye is injected and you are not actually scanned.