Imaging in rickets

IMAGING
IN
RICKETS
PRESENTER: DR. YASHAS ULLAS L.

Contents
 Pathoradiological features
 Radiological features
 Differential diagnosis

Introduction
• Rickets is a metabolic disease of growing bone that is
unique to children.
• It caused by a failure of mineralization of osteoid tissue in a
developing skeleton, particularly at the growth plate.
• Imperfect calcification typically resulting in soft bones and
skeleton deformities.

Patho radiological features
 Radiological appearances truly portray the histological
changes occurring in the bones.
 Disordered proliferation of cartilage cells and defective
mineralization in the zone of provisional calcification.
 Decreased quantity of calcified osteoid.

Patho radiological features
 Owing to the lack of osteoid mineralization the
metaphyseal zone of provisional calcification will also be
absent radiographically.
 Bones appear more radiolucent with coarsened trabecular
pattern.
 Widened growth plate with irregular, frayed and cupped
metaphyseal margins (paintbrush metaphyses)

Apoptosis of hypertrophic
chondrocytes caused by
phosphate ions
Hypophosphatemia
No apoptosis of
hypertrophic
chondrocytes
Normal growth plate Rachitic growth plate

Impaired apoptosis of terminally differentiated chondrocytes in the
growth plate are responsible for clinical and radiological signs of rickets

RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES
 Widening of growth plate:-
 Earliest and specific radiological change.
 It is due to increase in cartilaginous cell mass.
 Metaphyseal fraying:-
 Irregular metaphyseal margins occurring due to fraying and
disorganization of spongy bone in the metaphyseal region.

 Metaphyseal cupping and widening:-
 Protrusion of bulky mass of cartilageneous cells in the zone
of hypertrophy into the poorly mineralized metaphysis.
Normal Rickets

 Epiphyseal abnormalities:-
 Osteopenia.
 Irregular and indistinct borders.
 Delayed appearance of ossification centres.
 Shaft abnormalities:-
 Rarefaction of shaft due to loss of mineral content.
 Cortex becomes thin with coarse echotexture.

 Growth plate abnormalities:-
 Generalised osteopenia.
 Coarse trabecular pattern.
 Frayed paintbrush metaphyseal margins.
 Lack of the zone of provisional calcification.
 Widening of the physis.

 Wrist:
 Widening of growth plates.
 Irregular margins of metaphysis with widening and
cupping.
 Osteopenia.
 Rarefraction in long bones.

 Bowing of long bones:
 Result of displacement of growth centres owing to
assymetrical musculotendinous pull on the weakened growth
plate.

 Rachitic rosary:
 Bulbous enlargement of costochondral junction.
 May indent on the pleural surface.

 Craniotabes:
 Excessive osteoid deposition in frontal and parietal regions
with posterior flattening of skull due to supine posture of
infant.
 Squared configuration of skull.
 Demineralisation of skull.

 Triradiate pelvis:-
 Protrusion of hip into the soft pelvis with protrusio acetabuli.

RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF
HEALING RICKETS
 Appearance of line of provisional calcification at the end of
metaphysis.
 Metaphysis show cupping and splaying but no fraying.
 Periosteum may show double periosteal line due to
subperiosteal deposition of osteoid tissue.

RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF
HEALED RICKETS
 The subperiosteal osteoid tissue is calcified (no double
periosteal line).
 Splaying and cupping is corrected.

Differential diagnosis
 Scurvy.
 Schimid type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia.
 Blount disease.

Rickets Scurvy
Epiphyseal centres are invisible or
indistinct
Epiphysis is sharply marginated by
sclerotic rim (Wimberger’s sign)
Loss of zone of provisional calcification
adjacent to metaphysis, thus having a
faint and irregular line (Fraying)
Zone of proviosional calcification at
metaphysis is dense giving a “ White line
of Frenkel’s sign”
Not found Trummerfeld zone and Pelken’s spur
seen
Subperiosteal layer may be found but less
marked effect.
Sub-periosteal hemorrhage due to
capillary fragility giving rise to periosteal;
elevation.

RICKETS SCURVY
Epiphyseal centres are
invisible or indistinct
Epiphysis is sharply
marginated by sclerotic
rim (Wimberger’s sign)
Loss of zone of
provisional calcification
zone of provisional
calcification is dense
“White line of Frenkel”

 Schimid type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia
- Mild type, due to mutation
in type X collagen (COL10A1 gene),
metaphyses are cupped resembling rickets.

Blount disease refers to a local disturbance
of growth of the medial aspect of the
proximal tibial metaphysis and/or epiphysis
that results in tibia vara.

Imaging in rickets

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Editor's Notes