Computed tomographic features of renal osteodystrophy.

The spectrum of musculoskeletal abnormalities seen on routine computed tomographic (CT) examinations of five patients with renal osteodystrophy are described. CT findings included multiple brown tumors, osteitis fibrosa cystica, abnormal sacroiliac joints, periarticular tumoral calcifications, prominent Schmorl's nodes, and slipped capital femoral epiphyses. In this small group of patients, the musculoskeletal abnormalities ranged from the subtle to the dramatic. Although CT examination is rarely used as a screening test for renal osteodystrophy, it is important to be familiar with its many appearances on CT, in order not to confuse the CT changes of renal osteodystrophy with metastatic disease, osteomyelitis, or inflammatory arthritis.