Skeletally immature patients have numerous radiolucent growth centers composed of cartilage
Primary physis: Site of majority of longitudinal growth; lies between epiphysis & metaphysis
Secondary physis: Surrounds secondary ossification center (SOC) in epiphysis or equivalent bone
Interface where cartilaginous precursor is transformed into bone from central to peripheral
Process is uniform in some centers (capitellum, femoral head), nonuniform in others (fragmented trochlea, irregular medial femoral condyle)
Apophysis: Nonarticular SOC with muscle/tendon attachment (ischial & tibial tuberosities)
Zone of provisional calcification (ZPC): Thin, radiodense line at interface of physeal growth cartilage & newly mineralized bone
Accessory ossification centers: Separate small rounded ossicles vs. SOCs in same unossified cartilage as adjacent epiphysis (or equivalent bone)
Pseudoepiphysis: False appearance of growth centers at distal 1st & proximal 2nd-5th metatarsals & metacarpals
Physiologic periosteal reaction (PPR): Smooth, solid, new bone being symmetrically & rapidly laid down along entire lengths of long bone diaphyses in infants
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Kan JH et al: Embryology, anatomy, and normal findings. In: Caffey's Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging, 13th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. 1219-36, 2019
Lerisson H et al: Radiographic/MR imaging correlation of the pediatric knee growth. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 27(4):737-51, 2019
Maloney E et al: The pediatric patella: normal development, anatomical variants and malformations, stability, imaging, and injury patterns. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 22(1):81-94, 2018
Woo TD et al: Radiographic morphology of normal ring apophyses in the immature cervical spine. Skeletal Radiol. 47(9):1221-8, 2018
Adib O et al: Pediatric cervical spine in emergency: radiographic features of normal anatomy, variants and pitfalls. Skeletal Radiol. 45(12):1607-17, 2016
Berko NS et al: Imaging appearances of musculoskeletal developmental variants in the pediatric population. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 44(1):88-104, 2015
Idriz S et al: CT of normal developmental and variant anatomy of the pediatric skull: distinguishing trauma from normality. Radiographics. 35(5):1585-601, 2015
Jaremko JL et al: Common normal variants of pediatric vertebral development that mimic fractures: a pictorial review from a national longitudinal bone health study. Pediatr Radiol. 45(4):593-605, 2015
Oestreich AE: Concave distal end of ulna metaphysis alone is not a sign of rickets. Pediatr Radiol. 45(7):998-1000, 2015
Zbojniewicz AM et al: Imaging of osteochondritis dissecans. Clin Sports Med. 33(2):221-50, 2014
Laor T et al: Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans: is it a growth disturbance of the secondary physis of the epiphysis? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 199(5):1121-8, 2012
Varich LJ et al: Normal maturation of the distal femoral epiphyseal cartilage: age-related changes at MR imaging. Radiology. 214(3):705-9, 2000
Laor T et al: Musculoskeletal system. In Kirks DR: Practical Pediatric Imaging: Diagnostic Radiology of Infants and Children. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven. 327-510, 1998
Related Anatomy
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Clinical Issues
Diagnostic Checklist
TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
Skeletally immature patients have numerous radiolucent growth centers composed of cartilage
Primary physis: Site of majority of longitudinal growth; lies between epiphysis & metaphysis
Secondary physis: Surrounds secondary ossification center (SOC) in epiphysis or equivalent bone
Interface where cartilaginous precursor is transformed into bone from central to peripheral
Process is uniform in some centers (capitellum, femoral head), nonuniform in others (fragmented trochlea, irregular medial femoral condyle)
Apophysis: Nonarticular SOC with muscle/tendon attachment (ischial & tibial tuberosities)
Zone of provisional calcification (ZPC): Thin, radiodense line at interface of physeal growth cartilage & newly mineralized bone
Accessory ossification centers: Separate small rounded ossicles vs. SOCs in same unossified cartilage as adjacent epiphysis (or equivalent bone)
Pseudoepiphysis: False appearance of growth centers at distal 1st & proximal 2nd-5th metatarsals & metacarpals
Physiologic periosteal reaction (PPR): Smooth, solid, new bone being symmetrically & rapidly laid down along entire lengths of long bone diaphyses in infants
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Kan JH et al: Embryology, anatomy, and normal findings. In: Caffey's Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging, 13th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. 1219-36, 2019
Lerisson H et al: Radiographic/MR imaging correlation of the pediatric knee growth. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 27(4):737-51, 2019
Maloney E et al: The pediatric patella: normal development, anatomical variants and malformations, stability, imaging, and injury patterns. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 22(1):81-94, 2018
Woo TD et al: Radiographic morphology of normal ring apophyses in the immature cervical spine. Skeletal Radiol. 47(9):1221-8, 2018
Adib O et al: Pediatric cervical spine in emergency: radiographic features of normal anatomy, variants and pitfalls. Skeletal Radiol. 45(12):1607-17, 2016
Berko NS et al: Imaging appearances of musculoskeletal developmental variants in the pediatric population. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 44(1):88-104, 2015
Idriz S et al: CT of normal developmental and variant anatomy of the pediatric skull: distinguishing trauma from normality. Radiographics. 35(5):1585-601, 2015
Jaremko JL et al: Common normal variants of pediatric vertebral development that mimic fractures: a pictorial review from a national longitudinal bone health study. Pediatr Radiol. 45(4):593-605, 2015
Oestreich AE: Concave distal end of ulna metaphysis alone is not a sign of rickets. Pediatr Radiol. 45(7):998-1000, 2015
Zbojniewicz AM et al: Imaging of osteochondritis dissecans. Clin Sports Med. 33(2):221-50, 2014
Laor T et al: Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans: is it a growth disturbance of the secondary physis of the epiphysis? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 199(5):1121-8, 2012
Varich LJ et al: Normal maturation of the distal femoral epiphyseal cartilage: age-related changes at MR imaging. Radiology. 214(3):705-9, 2000
Laor T et al: Musculoskeletal system. In Kirks DR: Practical Pediatric Imaging: Diagnostic Radiology of Infants and Children. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven. 327-510, 1998
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