Bone metastases on X‑ray: 7 real cases
Real, openly licensed radiographs showing bone metastases. Study what to look for, then open each case and read it yourself before revealing the answer.
What to look for
- Lytic (destructive), sclerotic (dense) or mixed lesions, often multiple.
- Typical sites are red-marrow areas: spine, pelvis, ribs, skull and proximal long bones.
- A missing pedicle on the spine AP view ('winking owl') is a classic sign; check for pathological fracture.
Quiz yourself on bone & joint disease images
Cases
Case #41507926Bone & joint disease · Intermediate
Case #10278284Bone & joint disease · Intermediate
Case #3741662Bone & joint disease · Intermediate
Case #14217398Bone & joint disease · Intermediate
Case #14546225Bone & joint disease · Intermediate
Case #119640855Bone & joint disease · Intermediate
Case #13244996Bone & joint disease · IntermediateOther bone & joint disease diagnoses
- Avascular necrosis of the femoral head
- Enchondroma
- Freiberg disease
- Gout
- Hallux rigidus (first MTP osteoarthritis)
- Hallux valgus (bunion)
- Heterotopic ossification
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Multiple myeloma
- Neuropathic (Charcot) arthropathy
- Non-ossifying fibroma
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteochondroma (exostosis)
- Osteoma
- Osteomyelitis
- Osteoporosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Synovial chondromatosis
Diagnoses come from each image's documented source. Credits and licences are shown on each case and on the image credits page.