Hematogenous osteomyelitis of metaphyseal-equivalent locations.

Flat and irregular bones have anatomic subdivisions comparable to long bones. This concept is useful in the radiograpic evaluation of solitary bone lesions. Areas adjacent to cartilage are metaphyseal-equivalent locations. Prior to skeletal maturation, metaphyseal-type vascular anatomy predisposes these sites to involvement by hematogenous osteomyelitis. Approximately 30% of cases of hematogenous osteomyelitis affect these metaphyseal-equivalent sites and often present difficult diagnostic challenges. Forty-nine patients with this condition are described.