BASICS OF RADIOLOGY DEFINITIONS

Question 1

basis for contrast

Answer 1

Differential attenuation

Question 2

any decrease in bone density, generally result of either qualitative or quantitative deficiencies of bone (osteopenia ≠
osteoporosis: osteopenia is the finding from the radiograph while osteoporosis is a condition/disease)

Answer 2

Osteopenia

Question 3

qualitative loss of bone mass, radiographs cannot detect small changes

Answer 3

Osteoporosis

Question 4

vitamin D deficiency

Answer 4

Osteomalacia

Question 5

absorbed bone (seen in renal failure)

Answer 5

Hyperparathyroidism

Question 6

no endocrine deficit but neoplasm leading to systemic osteopenic changes

Answer 6

Neoplastic disease

Question 7

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

Disuse osteoporosis (ex. wearing cast for extended period of time)

Answer 7

Regional

Question 8

highly localized (ex. osteomyelitis)

Answer 8

Focal

Question 9

occurs systemically

Answer 9

Band-like (ex. acute lymphoblastic leukemia)

Question 10

any true increase (esp. within medullary canal) in bone density without alteration in configuration

Answer 10

*Osteosclerosis

Question 11

applied to processes which increase bone width & density

Answer 11

*Hyperosteosis

Question 12

brightening of the bone not caused by pathology

Answer 12

Pseudosclerosis

Question 13

Endocrine

Neoplastic- metastases of bone (prostate, breast, etc.)

Drugs- Vitamin D, fluoride

Congenital sclerosing bone dysplasias- usually assoc. with skeletal malformations

Myeloproliferative disorders

Infection, infarction, arthropathy
- ex. “the bends”

Answer 13

Generalized sclerosis

Question 14

diminishing trabecular pattern

Answer 14

Calcaneal sclerosis

Question 15

banding of sclerosis along normal trabecular patterns which have become thickened (but bone isn’t usually strengthened - avulsion fracture
typical)

Answer 15

Paget’s disease

Question 16

trabecular variations appear on radiograph

Answer 16

Texture

Question 17

osteolytic processes

Answer 17

Destruction

Question 18

solitary cortical lysis, large >1cm

Answer 18

*Geographic

Question 19

multiple smaller 2-5mm, can be seen from a distance

Answer 19

*Motheaten

Question 20

numerous, very small holes <1mm

Answer 20

*Permeative

Question 21

tumor extends into marrow space between trabeculae in advance of osteolytic edge

Answer 21

Local infiltrative process

Question 22

giant cell tumor (GCT), chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF), active enchondroma, osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and chondrosarcoma

Answer 22

Typical 1C lesions

Question 23

bone short and wide (short and stubby), bones take on conical shape

Answer 23

*Undertubulation

Question 24

long and over-constricted

(ex. Marfan’s syndrome - long slender bones

Answer 24

*Overtubulation

Question 25

epiphysis, metaphysis, or diaphysis Common causes: thalassemia, sickle-cell disease, Gaucher's, Neimann-Pick disease, epiphyseal-metaphyseal fracture/injury, Rickett's (including renal osteodystrophy, biliary rickets, dilantin tx)

Answer 25

Splaying (flaring)

Question 26

ends of bone flare out, concavity to convexity

Answer 26

*Erlenmeyer flask deformity

Question 27

Soft tissue swelling and bony proliferative (periosteal) changes

Answer 27

Clubbing of distal phalanges

Question 28

over-proliferating distal phalangeal tuft with soft | tissue thickening

Answer 28

*Acromegaly "Tuft sign"

Question 29

abnormal short fingers and/or toes

Answer 29

Brachydactyly

Question 30

abnormally large fingers and/or toes

Answer 30

Macrodactyly (macrodactylia)

Question 31

overgrowth of a part

Answer 31

Macrodystrophia

Question 32

often a key clue to benign or malignant processes (abnormal in adults)

Answer 32

Periosteal Reactions

Question 33

periosteal reaction has no skips, breaks, etc.

Answer 33

Continuous

Question 34

periosteal reaction eroded (assoc. with buttresses - benign)

Answer 34

Interrupted

Question 35

variations in patterns, "other

Answer 35

Complex

Question 36

single continuous layer with underlying cortex grossly intact - homogenous new bone formation - thicker 1 mm - general sign of benign process

Answer 36

single layer and solid

Question 37

divergent spiculated delicate rays of periosteal new bone - rays emitting from common center - highly suggestive but not pathognomonic of osseous sarcoma - seen with osteoporosis plastic met, osteoblastoma, and hemangioma

Answer 37

sunburst

Question 38

onion skin - concentric planes of ossification beyond cortex - reflects cyclical variations of tumor growth - Lucent zones - not always neoplastic

Answer 38

lamellate multi-layered

Question 39

hair on end - parallel rays of periosteal new bone projecting perpendicular to cortex - calcification along sharpey's fibers - nonspecific, generally not seen with benign lesions indicating malignancy

Answer 39

spiculated

Question 40

any interruption of periosteal reaction, except buttress - very aggressive tumor - upstaging sign

Answer 40

codman's angle/triangle

Question 41

non-aggressive lesion, seen with solid periosteal reactions

Answer 41

periosteal buttress````````

Question 42

generally intermediate growth rate smooth, lobulated, trabeculated neoplastic osteoctasia

Answer 42

ballooned lesions

Question 43

processes occurring in and around the cortex

Answer 43

juxta-cortical processes

Question 44

bony or cartilaginous outgrowths

Answer 44

exostotic

Question 45

joint margin, hallmark of osteoarthritis

Answer 45

osteophyte

Question 46

tendon/ligament used as insertion onto bone

Answer 46

enthesophyte

Question 47

cartilaginous bone tumor, benign lesion

Answer 47

osteochondroma

Question 48

bleeding into periosteal structures

Answer 48

parosteal myositis ossificans

Question 49

bleeding into subperiosteal space or soft tissues which can ossify

Answer 49

ossified subperiosteal hematoma

Question 50

calcium deposits

Answer 50

calcinosis

Question 51

abnormal Ca2+ or PO4-

Answer 51

metastatic

Question 52

normal Ca2+ or PO4-

Answer 52

dystrophic