Lytic Bone Lesions
Lytic bone lesions replace the normal bone and are often seen on imaging studies like X-rays, CT and MRI. Lytic bone lesions look like holes which are darker than bone on X-rays.
Lytic lesions replace the bone with fatty, liquid or soft tissue components. Patient information, the imaging appearance and how aggressive the lesion looks help radiologists narrow the diagnostic possibilities.
What are lytic bone lesion
Lytic bone lesions look darker than normal bone on X-rays. They represent replacement of the bone with an abnormal process which can be infectious, a benign growth, cancer, or a metabolic abnormality.
What are the causes of lytic bone lesions?
Lytic bone lesions can represent many different diagnosis. We narrow the diagnostic possibilities of lytic bone lesions by considering the age of the patient and how aggressive the lytic bone lesion looks.
There is unfortunately an overlap between the appearance of benign and cancerous lesions on imaging studies. We often can not tell for sure what a bone lesion represents but only offer a set of possibilities.
For example the most common lytic lesions in those over 40 include: metastasis, myeloma, infections, gout, cysts, and chondrosarcoma.
How do we arrive at a diagnosis of a lytic bone lesion?
The age of the patient helps us narrow the possibilities.
The clinical history and whether a patient has a history of cancer helps.
An X-ray allows us to assess how aggressive a bone lesion is.
One of the most important features is the margin of the lesion. Those lesions which have sharp margin you can clearly see are less aggressive than those which are poorly defined.
Those lesions which are ill defined and produce small holes in bone are even more aggressive.
The location within the skeleton and location within the bone also helps us narrow the possibilities.
The composition of the bone lesion aids in the diagnosis. For example, fatty lesion versus cartilaginous matrix.
Knowing whether there is a single bone lesion versus multiple also helps us come up with a diagnosis.
Are lytic bone lesions cancerous?
They can be depending on the appearance on X-ray. Cancer and myeloma should be considered for many lytic lesions in patients over 40 years old.
How are lytic bone lesions diagnosed?
Lytic bone lesions are diagnosed using imaging studies, particularly X-rays. As described above, the imaging appearance combined with patient age and clinical history allows us to arrive at a set of possibilities. CT scans and MRI helps us with diagnosis in some cases.
How are lytic bone lesions treated?
Lytic lesions are treated based on the diagnosis. A benign lesion will be treated differently than a metastasis or spread of cancer. A biopsy and further imaging may be needed in some cases.Referral to an oncology specialist may also be needed for proper diagnosis and management.
Are lytic lesions serious?
They can be serious because lytic lesions can represent an infection or cancer. Even benign lesions place some patients at risk for a fracture or future development of cancer.
Lytic bone lesions summary
Lytic bone lesions replace the normal bone and produce an appearance which resembles a dark hole. The possibilities for a lytic bone lesion are broad. The age, clinical information and appearance on X-rays helps us narrow the possibilities. In some cases, biopsy and referral to oncology will be needed for proper management.