Zebra stripe sign

Case contributed by Mohammad Taghi Niknejad
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Work up for bilateral wrists pain. A long history of proteinuria under treatment of corticosteroids and also pamidronate therapy because of secondary osteomalacia.

Patient Data

Age: 17 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

Multiple prominent horizontal sclerotic lines affect the distal metaphyses of the radius and ulna, proximal metaphysis of the first metacarpal and distal metaphyses of the 2nd to the 5th metacarpal bones, bilaterally. Similar involvement is also observed in the visualised portion of the phalanges.

In addition, regarding the appearance and size of the secondary bone ossification centres, bone age is estimated about 14 years, which indicates a delay in the patient's bone growth according to the chronological age.

Case Discussion

This case demonstrates a typical zebra stripe sign usually seen due to cyclical bisphosphonate therapy, e.g. pamidronate (the diagnosis was established clinically).

Alternating radiolucent and radiodense metaphyseal lines also can be seen with several conditions, including rickets, especially those on prolonged treatment, e.g. vitamin D-dependent rickets, osteopetrosis, chemotherapy, chronic anaemia e.g. sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia, and treated leukaemia.

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