Alternating radiolucent and radiodense metaphyseal lines can be seen with a number of conditions and the differential diagnosis is wide:
- growth arrest lines
- bisphosphonate therapy
- rickets: especially those on prolonged treatment, e.g. vitamin D dependent rickets
- osteopetrosis
- chemotherapy
- chronic anemia: e.g. sickle cell anemia and thalassemia
- treated leukemia
See also
- zebra stripe sign
- dense metaphyseal bands: differential and mnemonic
- lucent metaphyseal bands