Abstract
Introduction: The term 'metabolic diseases of bone' refers to the group of conditions where abnormalities occur to the bony mass, hemostasis of bone-related substance, the turnover of bone tissue, or the growth of bones. The most common disease in this group is osteoporosis which leads to a generalized bony mass loss along with destruction and degeneration of the microarchitecture of the bone tissue. In cases where impairment occurs during the development of chondrocytes, which is usually associated with growth plate cartilage mineralization failure, the clinical picture of rickets manifest by the development of widening of the growth plates along with fraying of the metaphyses at greatest growth rates areas. When mineralization of the new bone tissue is impaired, this will lead to the development of osteomalacia which is characterized by the presence of Looser zones. Another metabolic condition in the bone is hypophosphatemia which is a hereditary condition that also cause impairment in the mineralization of bones and is associated with several clinical phenotype. Aim of work: In this review, we will discuss the most recent evidence regarding imaging in bone disorders. Methodology: We did a systematic search for the role on imaging in bone disorders using PubMed search engine (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) and Google Scholar search engine (https://scholar.google.com). Our search also looked for recent advances in the radiographical diagnosis of bone disorders All relevant studies were retrieved and discussed. We only included full articles. Conclusions: The term 'Metabolic conditions of the bone' refers to a wide range of diseases that lead to the development of abnormalities in the mass of bones, mineralization of bones, turnover of bones, and/or growth of bones. The most common condition of metabolic bone diseases is osteoporosis which usually affects postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis lead to the development of abnormal microarchitecture of bones which results from the loss of bone mass. Osteomalacia and rickets, on the other hand, are a result of abnormal or failed mineralization of bones. Other diseases include endocrinal dysfunctions like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hyperpituitarism, and hyperparathyroidism. It is crucial to understand exact mechanisms of these diseases to be able to correctly and early diagnose the disease and treat properly. Further studies are still required to further understand these conditions and develop better therapies that will prevent the development of severe skeletal complications.