Skeletal scintigraphy with 99mTc-DPD

Skeletal scintigraphy is used to search for skeletal metastases, rheumatologic diseases, inflammations and infections as well as suspected child abuse.

Skeletal scintigraphy in a patient with multiple bone metastases

Skeletal scintigraphy for multiple bone metastases

Preparations for skeletal scintigraphy

  • You do not have to be sober.
  • You may take all your medication as usual.
  • If you are in severe pain, please take sufficient painkillers.

Skeletal scintigraphy procedure

At the beginning of the examination, a slightly radioactive substance is injected into a vein in your arm. This substance accumulates in your skeleton and we can use it to examine your bone metabolism.

The images are taken approx. 3 hours after the injection (takes approx. 30 – 60 minutes). In the meantime, you can leave the institute. You may eat normally and should drink at least 1-2 liters of water (no dairy products) in the meantime.

In certain cases, we also examine the soft tissue perfusion by recording a so-called early phase. These early images are taken immediately after the injection or during the injection and last 30 minutes.

Radiation exposure

The radiation exposure of the examination is comparable to the annual, natural radiation exposure (4 mSv) and is not increased by the number of images. If you are pregnant or may be pregnant, or if you do not know for sure, please report this before the examination. Please also note that you should not be accompanied by children or adolescents for the examination.

Side effects

Side effects, such as allergies, are extremely rare. Please inform us of any allergies you may have. The examination can also be carried out on children without any problems. The examination times reserved for you are binding for us. It may rarely happen that emergency patients are examined and you have to wait. We ask for your understanding. The evaluation of the recordings takes time. Therefore, we cannot inform you of the result immediately after the examination. We send the examination report and the images to the referring doctor. He will inform you of the results of the examination.

Responsible doctors

Martin Hüllner, Prof. Dr. med.

Senior Attending Physician, Vice Director of Department, Department of Nuclear Medicine

Tel. +41 44 255 25 80
Specialties: Research group: Hybrid and molecular tumor imaging, PET/CT and PET/MR, SPECT/CT

Cäcilia Mader, Dr. med.

Attending Physician with extended responsibilites, Department of Nuclear Medicine

Tel. +41 43 253 88 02

Alexander Maurer, Dr. med.

Attending Physician with extended responsibilites, Department of Nuclear Medicine

Tel. +41 43 253 88 09
Specialties: Multimodal oncological hybrid imaging (PET/CT and PET/MRI), Imaging of prostate cancer (PSMA PET), SPECT/CT

Michael Messerli, PD Dr. med.

Attending Physician with extended responsibilites, Department of Nuclear Medicine

Tel. +41 43 253 88 03
Specialties: Multimodal oncological imaging, Thoracic imaging, Research group: Hybrid and molecular tumor imaging

For patients

As a patient, you cannot register directly for a consultation. Please get a referral from your primary care physician, specialist. For questions please use our contact form.

Tel. +41 44 255 35 55
Contact form

For referrer

Simply assign your patient via registration form.

Tel. +41 44 255 35 55

Medical information hotline 08.00-18.00 hrs: +41 44 255 15 03

Registration form

Responsible Department

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