Bone Metastases | Osseous Metastatic Disease - Glossary

Glossary

Bone scan: A technique to create images of bones on a computer screen or on film. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into a blood vessel and travels through the bloodstream; it collects in the bones and is detected by a scanner.

MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Orthopedic: Orthopedics is a branch of medicine, which is related to diagnosis and treatment of diseases of Musculoskeletal system.

Osteoblasts: A cell that forms bone.

Osteoclasts: A cell that breaks down unwanted bone tissue; also refers to a device for fracturing a bone to correct a deformity.

PET: Positron emission tomography scan. A computerized image of the metabolic activity of the body tissues used to determine the presence of disease.