BASICS OF RADIOLOGY DEFINITIONS Flashcards
basis for contrast
Differential attenuation
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)
Osteopenia
qualitative loss of bone mass, radiographs cannot detect small changes
Osteoporosis
vitamin D deficiency
Osteomalacia
absorbed bone (seen in renal failure)
Hyperparathyroidism
no endocrine deficit but neoplasm leading to systemic osteopenic changes
Neoplastic disease
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
Disuse osteoporosis (ex. wearing cast for extended period of time)
Regional
highly localized (ex. osteomyelitis)
Focal
occurs systemically
Band-like (ex. acute lymphoblastic leukemia)
any true increase (esp. within medullary canal) in bone density without alteration in configuration
*Osteosclerosis
applied to processes which increase bone width & density
*Hyperosteosis
brightening of the bone not caused by pathology
Pseudosclerosis
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”
Generalized sclerosis
diminishing trabecular pattern
Calcaneal sclerosis
banding of sclerosis along normal trabecular patterns which have become thickened (but bone isn’t usually strengthened - avulsion fracture
typical)
Paget’s disease
trabecular variations appear on radiograph
Texture
osteolytic processes
Destruction
solitary cortical lysis, large >1cm
*Geographic
multiple smaller 2-5mm, can be seen from a distance
*Motheaten
numerous, very small holes <1mm
*Permeative