Musculoskeletal Radiology: Bone Tumors

Musculoskeletal Radiology, and in particular, Bone Tumors, is considered an important topic for the NEET PG exam. This is because bone tumors are a common cause of musculoskeletal pain and can impact an individual's mobility and quality of life. 

The diagnosis and management of bone tumors often involves the integration of radiology with other specialties such as orthopedics, oncology, and pathology. A good understanding of musculoskeletal radiology, including bone tumors, is essential for effective patient care.

In this blog, you’ll get a brief overview of this important radiology topic for NEET PG exam preparation. Read on.

BONE TUMORS

Epiphyseal Tumors

• Chondroblastoma
  • Seen in children (growth plate not fused). Calcification is seen: Chicken wire calcification
• Giant cell tumor
  • Middle aged adult
  • Distal end of radius
  • Soap bubble appearance
  • From epiphysis towards metaphysis

Diaphyseal Tumors

• Adamantinoma
  • Chief bone affected : Tibia
  • Rare; malignant potential (+)
  • Has associated bowing of bone

Important Information Histopathology features in adamantinoma are also seen in Ameloblastoma of jaw

• Ewing sarcoma
  • 0 - 20 yrs [MC in 1^st decade]
  • Inflammatory (+)
  • Onion peel periosteal reaction: Large permeative lesion

Important Information Aggressive periosteal reaction Onion peel lesion Sunburst appearance Codman’s triangle

• Osteoid osteoma
  • Any age
  • Nocturnal pain relieved on NSAIDS [because Nidus releases prostaglandin]
  • Diaphyseal tumor in shaft of long bone
  • Lesion in cortex; has central lucency k/a Nidus
  • Periosteal thickening
  • TOC: CT Guided radiofrequency Ablation

Metaphyseal Tumors

• Simple bone cyst
  • Proximal humeral end
  • Well defined geographical lytic lesion
  • Pathological fracture with fragment fallen into the lesion k/a “Fallen Fragment”
  • 1^st decade
  • No septations

• Aneurysmal Bone cyst
  • 2^nd decade
  • Septations (+) (Multiple): Soap bubble appearance
  • MRI: Multiple blood – blood / blood – fluid levels (Bleeding inside lesion)

Important information  Fluid – fluid levels on MRI Aneurysmal bone cyst Giant cell tumor Telangiectatic osteosarcoma Metastasis (Hypervascular) RCC  Follicular thyroid

• Osteochondroma / Exostosis
  • Bony outgrowth growing away from joint
  • Not a true bone tumor
  • If multiple lesions are seen – Diaphyseal Aclasis / Hereditary Multiple exostoses
  • Risk of developing chondrosarcoma
  • IOC : MRI to rule out malignancy [>1.5 cm/2cm]

Important Information Risk of malignancy Exostosis : 1% HME : 5-20%

• Osteosarcoma
  • 0-20 yrs (2^nd decade)
  • New bone (+)
  • “Codman’s triangle” [lifting up of periosteum]
  • “Sunburst” reaction (new bone spicules)
  • Aggressive metaphyseal tumor: Has dense matrix (suggestive of new bone formation)

Important Information Chondroblastoma AKA Codman’s tumor

Important Information Hemangioma Bluish lesions Soft tissue / vascular calcification k/a phleboliths

Multiple enchondromas

• Expanded short tubular bones of hand with stippled calcification: Hallmark of enchondroma
• Only multiple enchondroma : OLLIER DISEASE
• Multiple enchondroma + Hemangioma: MAFFUCCI DISEASE

Fibrous dysplasia

• Ground glass matrix in femoral neck (metaphyseal region)
• If any pathological fracture associated then can see a deformity k/a Shepherd crook deformity (femur is bend)
• Rind sign: Sclerotic rim (femoral neck)
• Fibrous dysplasia can involve multiple bones k/a Multiple / Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia can associated with
  • McCune Albright syndrome: Precocious puberty, endocrinopathies
  • Mazabraud syndrome: Soft tissue Myxoma

Spinal Hemangioma

• MC benign lesion in vertebral body
• Body trabeculation: “Jail bar / corduroy cloth appearance” [sagittal view]
• Bony trabeculation (cross - section): “Polka dot sign”

Also Read: Why is Radiology the most preferred branch?

ARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis

• Aka degenerative arthritis
• Large joints affected > Small joints
• Chronic history; Asymmetric (E.g., lateral joint space is more involved)
• No morning stiffness
• Osteophytes (New bone formed)
• Subchondral Sclerosis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Small joints > Large joints
• Young female; Morning stiffness (+)
• Symmetrical
• Erosions (marginal): Periarticular Osteopenia
• Sparing : DIP

Important Information MC bone affected in Rheumatoid arthritis : MCP joint

• Because of constant inflammation synovial proliferation k/a Pannus seen in Rheumatoid arthritis

Important Information Long standing RA Deformities like swan neck, boutonniere, Z deformity

• Ball Catcher’s view
  • Done for RA
  • MCP joint are better visualized in this view 
  • Aka Brewerton’s view

Psoriatic Arthritis

• Gross destruction of bone are seen giving 
  • Pencil in cup appearance 
  • Telescoping (+)
• Has associated skin, nail changes [silvery scale, oil pitting nail]
• Very destruction form of psoriatic arthritis k/a Arthritis Mutilans
  • Opera glass sign
• MC joint affected : DIP

Gouty Arthritis

• Older Male
• MC joint : 1st MTP
• Large erosions k/a “Rat bite erosion”
• Overhanging margins: “Martel G sign”
• Dual energy CT can identify (Tophi) the presence of uric acid in subcutaneous and in joint space

Important Information DECT can also tell whether the calculi is Ca2+ / Uric acid  VRT-CT : 3D image showing uric acid crystals in Gouty arthritis using DECT

Neuropathic Joint / Charcot joint

• Joint looks very destructed but patient feels no pain
• MC seen in DM patients
• MC : Foot (mid tarsal joint)
• Other causes
  • Leprosy
  • Syringomyelia
  • Any neuropathy
• X-ray shows 6Ds
  • Distention (joint effusion (+))
  • Density (increased)
  • Debris
  • Dislocation
  • Disorganization
  • Destruction

One liners

• Epiphyseal enlargement seen in 
  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Epiphyseal dysgenesis seen in 
  • Congenital hypothyroidism [Baby will have short stature]
• Widened intercondylar notch seen in 
  • Hemophilic arthropathy [has squaring of patella]

Also Read: Metabolic Bone Diseases - NEET PG Radiology

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Important Information Ankylosis : fusion of joints

• Young patient (<50 yrs); Pan joint fusion / pan spinal fusion
• Inflammatory arthritis affecting spine 
• Most sensitive investigation / IOC for sacroiliitis: MRI [STIR sequence / fat suppressed sequence]
• 1st manifestation: Sacroiliitis [where there is inflammation in sacro-iliac joint → Bone marrow edema]
• End stage: Ankylosis of sacroiliac joint 

• 1^st sign on spine (X ray): Shinny corner sign / Romanus lesion (inflammation at attachment of annulus fibrosus)
• Enthesopathy or Enthesitis : At all tendentious, ligament attachment there is inflammation 

• As inflammation progress vertical syndesmophytes (new bone formation) → fusion of intervertebral disc (fusion of spine) → ligaments calcification → anterior, posterior, facet joints fuse; calcification of supraspinous, interspinous ligaments 
  • Tram Track appearance
  • Dagger sign (central  ossification)
  • Bamboo spine

Diffuse Idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)

Pan-Joint fusion (AS)

• Flowing wax ossification of ALL
• Old (> 50 yrs)
• Intervertebral disc and all other joints : Normal

OPLL

• Ossification of PLL (Posterior longitudinal ligament)
• Aka Japan’s disease

Fluorosis

• Density of Bones increased (sclerosis) + Interosseous ligament calcification (Hallmark of Fluorosis)
• Can have associated dental changes

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