A compartmental approach to the radiographic evaluation of soft-tissue calcifications

Musculoskeletal radiology, like most areas of diagnostic radiology, has seen a dramatic increase in the use of cross-sectional imaging techniques over the last decade. However, conventional radiography remains a vital role in the evaluation of disease involving the spine and extremities. Given its widespread availability and low cost, radiography should be the initial examination obtained when imaging is clinically indicated. Therefore it is essential that the practicing radiologists be able to maximize the diagnostic value of this common study to aid the clinicians with a focused differential diagnosis, if not a definitive diagnosis. While much emphasis has been placed on radiographic interpretation of osseous lesions, similar diagnostic yield can be often obtained about calcified or ossified soft-tissue lesions. Detailed evaluation of the distribution and morphology of the soft-tissue calcifications, combined with a thorough knowledge of the entities that may occur at the site of the noted abnormality, provides significant interpretive value to provide a definitive diagnosis or accurately recommend the next most effective management step. We provide a compartmental-based approach to the interpretation of soft-tissue calcifications.