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. 2024 Oct 31;29(5):284–307. doi: 10.6065/apem.2448044.022

Table 1.

Clinical, radiological, and biochemical features of conditions (rickets mimickers) which are often misdiagnosed as rickets

Conditions Clinical presentation Radiology Biochemistry Extra-skeletal features Confirmation
Blount's disease Bowing of lower limbs Beaking of proximal tibial metaphyses (medial>lateral) Normal Obesity Radiology
No involvement of upper limbs Abnormal 'tibio-femoral angle'
No rachitic rosary Tibial 'metaphyseal–diaphyseal angle' (>110)
No cupping/fraying/splaying
Skeletal dysplasias including metaphyseal chondrodysplasia Disproportionate short stature Metaphyseal irregularities ("moth-eaten" appearance) Normal Heterogenous Genetic test
Bowing of lower limbs Metaphyseal sclerosis Corneal/lenticular/retinal defects
Upper limb involvement (±) Lateral spurs Sensorineural hearing loss
Fragmented, dysplastic epiphyses (in epiphyseal dysplasia) Diabetes, hypothyroidism,
Platyspondyly/ malformed vertebrae (in spondyloepiphyseal/spondylo-metaphyseal dysplasia) Renal anomalies, cardiac valvular defects
Progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia Lower limb deformities No cupping/fraying/splaying Normal Genetic test
Pain over small and large joints Enlarged epiphyses
Joint stiffness Platyspondyly
Swelling of interphalangeal joints of the hands Mega os trigonum
Mucopolysaccharidoses Disproportionate short stature Bullet-shaped/pointed metacarpals and phalanges Irregular carpal bones Normal Coarse facial features. Urine GAG screening
Limb deformities V-shaped configuration between distal ends of radius and ulna Corneal clouding Enzyme assay from peripheral blood leucocytes
Widening of large joints Oar-shaped anterior widening of ribs Bushy eyebrows
Platyspondyly, dysplastic vertebrae, anterior beaking of the vertebral bodies Thick and waxy skin Genetic test
Hepatosplenomegaly
Odontoid hypoplasia Cardiac involvement,
Atlantoaxial subluxation Mental retardation
Cytoplasmic granules in lymphocytes (Alder Reilly granules)
Mucolipidosis (type II) Small for gestational age Periosteal new bone formation in long bones and ribs High ALP Coarse facial features Enzyme assay
Disproportionate short stature Marked osteopenia High PTH Dysmorphic facies Genetic test
Resorption of scapulae, clavicles, and mandible Low Pi Thick, waxy skin
Short and wide phalanges Hepatosplenomegaly
Metaphyseal fraying Gibbus
Tiny epiphyses Multiple gluteal clefts
Jansen's metaphyseal chondrodysplasia Severe disproportionate short stature Cupping and fraying of the metaphyses High calcium Hypercalcemia Genetic test
Limb deformities Diffuse demineralization and cortical erosion Low Pi
Sclerosis of the base of the skull Low PTH

ALP, alkaline phosphatase; Pi, inorganic phosphorus; PTH, parathyroid hormone.