Scurvy

  • Etiology: Vitamin C deficiency leading to impaired collagen synthesis
  • Imaging: osteopenia, “pencil point” cortical thinning, Trummerfeld zone (“field of rubble”) metaphyseal lucencies, Pelkan spur causing metaphyseal cupping, Frankel line: irregular white line at metaphysis due to dense zone of provisional calcification, Wimberger ring sign: epiphyseal shell with central lucency, subperiosteal hemorrhage that calcifies with healing
  • Clinical: bleeding tendency, impaired wound healing

Radiology Cases of Scurvy

Radiograph of scurvy
AP and lateral radiographs of the lower extremity show thinned cortices and calcified subperiostial hemorrhage around the distal femurs, left greater than right.