Diagnostic imaging in chronic renal failure

Abstract

The term renal osteodystrophy represents a diverse spectrum of skeletal abnormalities encountered in patients with chronic renal failure due to a variety of renal parenchymal disorders. Diagnostic imaging using conventional radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scintigraphy, and bone densitometry reveals an array of specific as well as non-specific manifestations. These findings include: bone resorption, brown tumors and osteosclerosis (secondary hyperparathyroidism), coarsened fuzzy trabeculae and Looser's zones (osteomalacia), widened growth plates, splayed and frayed metaphyses (rickets), thinned cortices and insufficiency fractures (osteopenia, aluminum toxicity); cystic juxta-articular lesions, synovial infiltration and vertebral destruction (amyloid deposition), and soft tissue calcifications.