Interactive digital atlas of skeletal surveys for common skeletal dysplasias

BackgroundSkeletal dysplasias are conditions of abnormal bone and cartilage growth resulting in short stature. Developing expertise in the radiographic evaluation of dysplasias can be difficult because more than 250 skeletal dysplasias have been described. Exhaustive description of individual dysplasias can be found in hard copy textbooks, without the ability to compare dysplasias side by side.ObjectiveTo provide radiographic images of several common skeletal dysplasias with comparative normal skeletal surveys, thus facilitating understanding of the terminology and differences in imaging appearances commonly encountered in interpreting dysplasias.Materials and methodsImages from skeletal surveys obtained at our institution from 2006 to 2010 were compiled and reviewed for best quality images. Selected surveys were divided into body parts. The software program used for viewing the atlas permits linked scrolling, resizing of images, and simultaneous comparison of cases.ResultsRadiographic images for 13 common skeletal dysplasias and 3 comparative normal skeletons (neonate, infant and child) are provided as an interactive digital atlas.ConclusionThe placement of images of several common skeletal dysplasias with descriptive text in an interactive and comparative format facilitates understanding of basic radiographic terminology and appearances. We describe the atlas and discuss skeletal survey interpretation.