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Articles are a collaborative effort to provide a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of radiology. As such, articles are written and continuously improved upon by countless contributing members. Our dedicated editors oversee each edit for accuracy and style. Find out more about articles.

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Chondrocalcinosis

Chondrocalcinosis (plural: chondrocalcinoses) is a descriptive term indicating the presence of gross calcium deposition within articular cartilage, i.e. both hyaline and fibrocartilage. Terminology Chondrocalcinosis articularis was an early term for calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition d...

Hydroxyapatite deposition disease

Hydroxyapatite crystal deposition disease (HADD) or calcium apatite deposition disease (CADD) is a disease of uncertain etiology characterized by periarticular and intra-articular calcium deposits. The shoulder is the most frequently involved site with classic calcific tendinitis presentation. ...

Suspected physical abuse

Suspected physical abuse (SPA), also known as non-accidental injury (NAI) or inflicted injury, in infants and young children represents both ethical and legal challenges to treating physicians. Radiologists may be the first clinical staff to suspect non-accidental injuries when confronted with ...

Leave alone lesions - skeletal

Skeletal leave alone lesions, also called “do not touch” lesions, are so characteristic radiographically that further diagnostic tests such as a biopsy are unnecessary and can be frankly misleading and lead to additional unnecessary surgery. Thus a radiologic diagnosis should be made without a l...

Inguinal region mass (differential)

The differential diagnosis of an inguinal region mass includes (in no particular order) 1-4: inguinal hernia femoral hernia hydrocele of the canal of Nuck spermatic cord hydrocele lymphadenopathy or necrotic lymph node undescended testis aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery i...

Spiculated periosteal reaction

Spiculated periosteal reaction represents spicules of new bone-forming along vascular channels and the fibrous bands that anchor periosteum to bone (Sharpey fibers). Pathology A spiculated periosteal reaction signifies a rapid underlying process that prevents the formation of new bone under th...

Craniovertebral junction anomalies

Craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies can be congenital, developmental or due to malformation secondary to an acquired disease process. These anomalies can lead to cranial nerve compression, vertebral artery compression, and obstructive hydrocephalus. Pathology The craniovertebral junction ...

Main differentials in musculoskeletal imaging

Here is a list of some of the most useful differential diagnoses in musculoskeletal imaging. By process lucent/lytic bone lesions (FEGNOMASHIC) multiple lucent/lytic bone lesions benign lytic bone lesions in patients under 30 years old diffuse bony sclerosis permeative process in bone pse...

Wackenheim line

The Wackenheim line, also known as the clivus canal line or basilar line, can be used to assess for atlanto-occipital dissociation. Measurement The Wackenheim line is the caudal extension of a line drawn along the posterior cortex of the clivus on lateral cervical spine radiographs 1. Interpr...

Finger pathology

Finger pathology is wide and includes all lesions involving the tendons, ligaments, muscles, bone, and articulations of the hand and foot digits. Congenital brachydactyly - short digits brachymetatarsia - short metatarsal arachnodactyly - elongated, thin "spider-like" digits 1 polydactyly (...

Ulnar variance

Ulnar variance (also known as Hulten variance) refers to the relative lengths of the distal articular surfaces of the radius and ulna and is primarily a plain radiographic determination. Ulnar variance may be: neutral (both the ulnar and radial articular surfaces at the same level) positive ...

Medical devices in the abdomen and pelvis

Medical devices in the abdomen and pelvis are important to be recognized, just like medical devices of the chest. We often ignore these devices, considering them to be incidental and non-pathological, however it is essential to be aware of potential complications. Gastrointestinal devices tube...

Cyst-like lesions around the knee

There is broad differential for cyst-like lesions around the knee. Differential diagnosis Cysts synovial cyst popliteal synovial cyst - Baker cyst ganglion cyst intra-articular ganglion cyst ACL ganglion cyst PCL ganglion cyst Hoffa fat pad ganglion cyst extra-articular ganglion cyst ...

Sacroiliitis (differential)

Sacroiliitis (rare plural: sacroiliitides), an inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, can be a manifestation of a wide range of disease processes. The pattern of involvement is helpful for narrowing down the differential diagnosis. Usually bilateral and symmetrical enteropathic arthritis Croh...

Pediatric calcific discopathy

Pediatric idiopathic intervertebral disc calcification is a rare condition affecting intervertebral discs, adjacent vertebral bodies, and musculo-ligamentous structures, typically resulting in local pain or sensorimotor disturbances. First described by Baron in 1924 1, the underlying etiology is...

Empyema

Empyemas are purulent inflammatory collections within a body cavity. Contrast this with abscesses, which arise within parenchymal tissue, rather than occupying a pre-existing anatomical space. Terminology Colloquially, the standalone term empyema is used to refer to thoracic empyemas but there...

Bent bone dysplasias (differential)

Bent bone dysplasias are a class of skeletal dysplasia included in a 2010 classification of genetic skeletal disorders 1: campomelic dysplasia Stuve-Weidemann dysplasia kyphomelic dysplasias, a diverse class, including congenital bowing of the long bones cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH; meta...

Bone tumors (overview)

There are a bewildering number of bone tumors with a wide variety of radiological appearances. For a formal and updated classification of bone tumors, see WHO classification of tumors of bone. bone-forming tumors osteoma osteoid osteoma osteoblastoma osteosarcoma cartilage-forming tumors ...

Swan neck deformity (fingers)

Swan neck deformity is a musculoskeletal manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis presenting in a digit of the hand, due to the combination of: hyperextension of a proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint flexion of a distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint Pathology The swan neck deformity, characteriz...

Codman triangle periosteal reaction

A Codman triangle is a type of periosteal reaction seen with aggressive bone lesions. The periosteum does not have time to ossify with shells of new bone (e.g. as seen in a single layer and multilayered periosteal reaction) in aggressive lesions, so only the edge of the raised periosteum will os...

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