Radionuclide bone scan. This nuclear imaging technique uses a very small amount of radioactive material, which is injected into the blood to be detected by a scanner. This test shows blood flow to the bone and cell activity within the bone.
Overview
A bone scan is a nuclear imaging test that helps diagnose and track several types of bone disease. Your doctor may order a bone scan if you have unexplained skeletal pain, a bone infection or a bone injury that can’t be seen on a standard X-ray.
Why it’s done
Images of bone scans depicting hot spots
Hot spots
If you have unexplained bone pain, a bone scan might help determine the cause. The test is very sensitive to any difference in bone metabolism. The ability to scan the entire skeleton makes a bone scan very helpful in diagnosing a wide range of bone disorders, including:
Fractures
Arthritis
Paget’s disease of bone
Cancer originating in bone
Cancer that has metastasized to bone from a different site
Infection of the joints, joint replacements or bones (osteomyelitis)
Impaired blood supply to bones or death of bone tissue (avascular necrosis)
Avascular Necrosis-Osteonecrosis Education and Resources 
I have been diagnosed with avascular necrosis of my R hip. I’m having a hip replacement in February. Should I request a full body bone scan?
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Hi I am sorry you must be in pain. You can talk to your pcp or ortho on if that would be a good test for you.
Often people with unexplainable bone pain will get the scan to determine possible cause or diagnoses.
Since you know you have avn
probably just an extra cost. But you can talk to your doctor.
A great support group to join is
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DeadBoneDiseaseAVN/?ref=share
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