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Sunburst appearance (bone)

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 27 Jun 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Weerakkody Y, Bell D, Saber M, et al. Sunburst appearance (bone). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Oct 2024) https://radiopaedia.org/articles/6634

DOI:

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/6634

rID:

6634

Article created:

26 Jul 2009, Yuranga Weerakkody ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.

View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures

Last revised:

27 Jun 2021, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

27 times, by 19 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal, Oncology

Sections:

Signs, Gamuts

Synonyms:

Sunburst periosteal reaction
Sunray appearance (bone)
Honeycomb (bone)

Sunburst or sunray appearance describes two separate findings in the bone: a periosteal reaction and a trabeculation pattern. It should not be confused with the sunburst sign of meningioma vascularity.

Sunburst periosteal reaction

Sunburst periosteal reaction reflects aggressive periostitis. The sunburst appearance occurs when the lesion grows too fast and the periosteum does not have enough time to lay down a new layer and instead the Sharpey's fibers stretch out perpendicular to the bone.

It is frequently associated with osteosarcoma but can also occur with other aggressive bony lesions:

Ewing sarcoma
osteoblastic metastases (e.g. prostate, lung or breast cancer).

Sunburst trabeculation

Sunburst or honeycomb trabeculation refers to the typical appearance of an intraosseous hemangioma (typically a low-flow vascular malformation) in which thickened trabeculae adjacent to abnormal vascular channels converge on a central area ⁴.

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Sunburst appearance (bone)

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Sunburst periosteal reaction

Sunburst trabeculation

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