Osteopenic bone disease.

Osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and hyperparathyroidism are the common causes of skeletal osteopenia. Radiograms of the skeleton are a basic part of the clinical evaluation of these osteopenic processes. Accurate interpretation of these radiograms is difficult; the presence and degree of osteopenia is often a subjective estimate. This article discusses radiographic features of the common deossifying disorders, including objective criteria that may be useful in routine clinical practice.