In all patients of African descent, and above all in all children of three months and older, the attention of the radiologist should be directed to the possibility of sickle cell anaemia in the presence of bone lesions with the following characteristics:--either diffuse pseudo-tumoural, signifying erythroblastosis secondary to anaemia;--or pseudo-osteitic, signifying thrombosis secondary to sickling. 2. These appearances from part of a rich and misleading pathological spectrum, in particular in rheumatology and pulmonary medicine, and even surgery. 3. The presumptive radiological diagnosis may be complemented by electrophoresis of haemoglobin which, alone, makes confirmation of the diagnosis possible.