Primer: Benign spotted bones: A diagnostic dilemma

Abstract

The discovery of bone spots on a radiograph is often disturbing, and benign conditions need to be differentiated from indicators of serious disease. Osteopoikilosis is one of several uncommon benign variants of bone formation that must be distinguished from more worrisome disorders, most notably osteoblastic metastases. This differentiation can be done on the basis of the lack of internal architecture, irregular margins, the periarticular distribution and relative sparing of the skull. © 2011 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors.