Overview
- There are multiple reasons why lucent lines may appear in bones, or why bone contours may appear abnormal, mimicking fractures.
Causes
- Anatomical variants (congenital anomalies)
- Developmental findings in children (growth plates, ossification centers)—need comparison views
- Degenerative changes (elderly patients), old trauma
- Nutrient artery foramina
- Imaging artifacts (e.g., Mach band adjacent to overlapping bones)
- Suboptimal or incorrect positioning
References and Links
- Schwartz DT, Reisdorff EJ. Emergency Radiology, McGraw-Hill 2000.
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