Diagnostic Imaging Approach to Solitary Bone Lesions

Abstract

Radiologists frequently encounter solitary bone lesions in daily practice. The interpreting radiologist has the onus to determine the level of suspicion and appropriate next-step recommendations to aid in timely healthcare decisions. Lesion imaging characteristics in conjunction with patient history and demographics ultimately determine if a bone lesion is benign. Lesions that cannot be confidently disregarded as benign and clinically insignificant require further evaluation through additional imaging, tissue sampling, or both. We review a diagnostic imaging approach to solitary bone lesions with case examples that detail real-world thought processes for interpretations and practical next-step recommendations.