Xeroradiography of the hand in patients with renal osteodystrophy

The hands of 40 patients with chronic renal failure and varying degrees of renal osteodystrophy were studied. The xerograph and radiograph of each patient were compared, assessing the degree of subperiosteal erosion, and of vascular, capsular and ectopic calcification. While the changes of osteodystrophy were clearly demonstrated on the xeroradiographs, they were also seen on the radiographs, even when only minor changes were present. The authors prefer the xeroradiograph for the measurement of the metacarpal cortical thickness, because of the sharp medial border of the cortex afforded by the "edge enhancement" of this technique.