[Periosteal reactions in bone tumors (author's transl)]

Morphology of solid, lamellar and spicular periosteal reactions of benign and malignant primary and metastatic bone tumors in x-ray-pictures with regard to common and specific characteristics of different bone tumors is presented. The specific behaviour of the periosteum itself and of the subperiosteal region as an expression of the reactive biodynamics in skeletal neoplasia is demonstrated; and the diagnostic value of the radiograph is explained. The possibilities but also the limitations of sophisticated radiologic image analysis in establishing a differential diagnosis and a diagnosis of bone tumors and other bone lesions are discussed.