Radiographic Pathology - Skeletal System
Questions and Answers| Latest Update
Osteoporosis ✔️✔️Usually caused by accelerated resorption of bone. For patients with this,
lowest practical kVp must be used.
Osteomalacia ✔️✔️Insufficient mineralization of the adult skeleton. May have nutritional causes.
Rickets ✔️✔️Equivalent of osteomalacia in children. Due to deficiency of vitamin D lack of
exposure of sunlight.
Gout ✔️✔️Blood levels with an increased uric acid leading to deposits of crystals in the joints and
cartilage
Bone Metastases: ✔️✔️Most common malignant bone tumors (more common than primary
neoplasms)
They spread from primary tumors by means of the bloodstream or lymphatic vessels or by
direct extension
The most common primary tumors are carcinomas of the breast, lung, prostate, kidney, and
thyroid.
Favorite sites of metastatic spread are bones containing red marrow, such as the spine, pelvis,
ribs, skull, and the upper ends of the humerus and femur.
Multiple Myeloma ✔️✔️Multiple myeloma is a widespread malignancy of plasma cells.
It is associated with bone destruction, bone marrow failure, hypercalcemia, renal failure, and
recurrent infections.
The disease affects primarily persons between 40 and 70 years of age.
Complete vs. Incomplete fractures ✔️✔️Complete - results in 2 bone fragments
, Incomplete - one side of bone cortex intact
Open vs. Closed fracture ✔️✔️Open (compound) - Fracture with associated skin wound
Closed - Fracture with skin intact
Transverse fracture ✔️✔️Fracture line is horizontal-to- long axis of bone
Oblique fracture ✔️✔️Fracture line extends at an angle to long axis of bone
Spiral fracture ✔️✔️Fracture line encircles the shaft
Avulsion fracture ✔️✔️Small fragments pulled from bone by attached ligaments or tendons
Comminuted fracture ✔️✔️More than 2 bone fragments
Butterfly fracture ✔️✔️Triangular fragment separated from 2 larger fragments
Segmental fracture ✔️✔️A piece of the shaft is separated by proximal and distal fracture lines
Compression fracture ✔️✔️Compacts the trabeculae
Depressed fracture ✔️✔️Fragment driven inward, e.g., skull fragment pushed into brain
Greenstick fracture ✔️✔️Occurs in immature bone; one side of cortex remains intact
Torus (Buckle) fracture ✔️✔️Compaction of one side of the cortex
Questions and Answers| Latest Update
Osteoporosis ✔️✔️Usually caused by accelerated resorption of bone. For patients with this,
lowest practical kVp must be used.
Osteomalacia ✔️✔️Insufficient mineralization of the adult skeleton. May have nutritional causes.
Rickets ✔️✔️Equivalent of osteomalacia in children. Due to deficiency of vitamin D lack of
exposure of sunlight.
Gout ✔️✔️Blood levels with an increased uric acid leading to deposits of crystals in the joints and
cartilage
Bone Metastases: ✔️✔️Most common malignant bone tumors (more common than primary
neoplasms)
They spread from primary tumors by means of the bloodstream or lymphatic vessels or by
direct extension
The most common primary tumors are carcinomas of the breast, lung, prostate, kidney, and
thyroid.
Favorite sites of metastatic spread are bones containing red marrow, such as the spine, pelvis,
ribs, skull, and the upper ends of the humerus and femur.
Multiple Myeloma ✔️✔️Multiple myeloma is a widespread malignancy of plasma cells.
It is associated with bone destruction, bone marrow failure, hypercalcemia, renal failure, and
recurrent infections.
The disease affects primarily persons between 40 and 70 years of age.
Complete vs. Incomplete fractures ✔️✔️Complete - results in 2 bone fragments
, Incomplete - one side of bone cortex intact
Open vs. Closed fracture ✔️✔️Open (compound) - Fracture with associated skin wound
Closed - Fracture with skin intact
Transverse fracture ✔️✔️Fracture line is horizontal-to- long axis of bone
Oblique fracture ✔️✔️Fracture line extends at an angle to long axis of bone
Spiral fracture ✔️✔️Fracture line encircles the shaft
Avulsion fracture ✔️✔️Small fragments pulled from bone by attached ligaments or tendons
Comminuted fracture ✔️✔️More than 2 bone fragments
Butterfly fracture ✔️✔️Triangular fragment separated from 2 larger fragments
Segmental fracture ✔️✔️A piece of the shaft is separated by proximal and distal fracture lines
Compression fracture ✔️✔️Compacts the trabeculae
Depressed fracture ✔️✔️Fragment driven inward, e.g., skull fragment pushed into brain
Greenstick fracture ✔️✔️Occurs in immature bone; one side of cortex remains intact
Torus (Buckle) fracture ✔️✔️Compaction of one side of the cortex
