More commonly referred to as a bone scan, is a diagnostic imaging technique used to determine sites of injury that may be difficult to find in soft tissue and bone based upon highlighted images of metabolic activity. Radioisotopes are given to the horse in low doses and the small tracers move to areas of high metabolic activity, usually indicating a site of injury in the soft tissue or bone. A camera, similar to a radiograph, is used to spot highlighted areas of the radioisotope and pinpoint an area for further testing or diagnostic imaging.
At Tennessee Equine Hospital, we offer nuclear scintigraphy to identify sites of injury including lameness, soft tissue, joint, back, and neck pain. This diagnostic modality is effective for determining multi-limb lameness.