Metabolic bone disease

Abstract

Metabolic diseases of the skeleton affect bone as a tissue. All bones are involved histologically, although radiological abnormalities are not always evident. Such disorders can be caused by genetic, endocrine, nutritional, or biochemical factors. Knowledge of bone structure, development, and physiology is essential to the understanding of the effects that metabolic bone disorders have on the skeleton, and in interpreting the abnormalities which they cause as seen on radiographs and using other imaging techniques. © 2005 Springer-Verlag Italia.