Abdominal X-ray
Abnormal soft tissues/bones
Bone disease
Localised or widespread bone disease may give rise to abdominal symptoms. If you suspect bone or joint disease then dedicated images of the area in question are required.
Occasionally there will be unexpected bone disease seen on an abdominal X-ray which may be incidental only, or pivotal to diagnosis
Bone tumours
Bone metastases may be seen on abdominal X-rays. These can be lytic (low density - black) or sclerotic (higher density - white). The most frequently encountered bone metastases are prostate cancer in men which is sclerotic, and breast cancer in women which can be sclerotic or lytic.
Key points
- Assess bones and joints on an abdominal X-ray
- Bone disease may be incidental or pivotal to diagnosis
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Bone metastases
- There are numerous sclerotic densities (white) of the vertebrae, sacrum, pelvis and proximal femora
- This patient had a known history of breast cancer
- Abdominal pain was actually due to high serum calcium
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Benign bone lesions
Benign lesions of bone may also be seen incidentally on an abdominal X-ray.
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Paget's disease
- This patient has Paget's disease which affects his lumbar spine and right hemipelvis
- This was an incidental finding when looking for a cause of abdominal pain
- The typical features of Paget's are bone expansion and coarsening of the trabecular pattern involving the whole of the bone(s) affected