Renal osteodystrophy

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 12 Feb 2024

Renal osteodystrophy, also known as uremic osteopathy, is a constellation of musculoskeletal abnormalities that occur in patients with chronic renal failure, due to concurrent and superimposed:

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

Imaging findings are many and varied:

Bone scintigraphy

The bony skeleton has high affinity towards 99mTc- diphosphonate especially in the calvaria, and mandible. Beading of the costochondral junction (also known as "tie sternum") is also seen. The bone findings are usually due to secondary hyperparathyroidism but an osteomalacia component may contribute to some of its scintigraphy features. Meanwhile, kidneys and urinary bladder appear faint or not visualized 6.

Differential diagnosis

General imaging differential considerations include:

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