1. Introduction

The mineral and bone disorders associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are often progressive in earlier stages of CKD but remain clinically silent until stages G3b-G4 (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 30 to 44 or 15 to 29 mL/min/1.73 m² of body surface). Serum bone biomarkers are the earliest indicators of mineral bone diseases (MBD) during CKD progression, starting with decreased circulating alpha klotho levels and an increase of serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). As CKD progresses, circulating 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D values decrease, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) rises and subsequent detectable alterations of serum calcium and phosphate metabolism occur [1]. The prevalence of CKD is still growing above other life-style diseases, affecting over 850 million people worldwide [2], and as patients get older and have a longer life expectation, the prevalence of CKD rises, together with the incidence of MBD. The combination of CKD-related low or high rates of bone turnover, mineralization defects and reduced bone mass has been termed renal osteodystrophy. However, seen more globally, bone disease in CKD is the sum of CKD-specific risk factors, which are in turn dependent on CKD progression, together with age- or sex-related bone loss. These complex and interacting changes to bone require careful evaluation, including using imaging techniques [3].

2. Characteristics of Bone Structure

Eighty percent of the human skeleton is composed of cortical bone and the other 20% is trabecular bone [18]. The proportion of cortical and trabecular bone differs according to each skeletal site, so the information provided by imaging should be considered in the light of this distribution. When evoked by pain, imaging techniques offer guidance towards the type of CKD-MBD and may reveal prevalent fractures or pseudo-fractures. Imaging can also provide information on bone fragility and monitor changes after a medical intervention.

Due to its higher proportion of cortical bone, imaging of the proximal femur or femoral neck sites reflect more accurately cortical BMD, which is correlated to femoral strength. With age, cortical bone resorption accelerates, resulting in cortical thinning and increased cortical porosity. Chronic metabolic changes such as high PTH in CKD patients further enhance these features. 

3. Bone and Soft Tissue Imaging

Plain radiographs do not quantify bone loss, and consequently other techniques

have been developed such as radiographic absorptiometry, DXA, QUS, QCT, pQCT, HR-pQCT and more recently quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These methods facilitate an analytic approach and may improve the distinction between differing bone pathologies and fracture prediction in patients with CKD. The main limitation is the affordability of some methods, and the need for validation in CKD populations before being suggested its use in clinical practice (Table 1).

3.1. Conventional Radiography

Radiography is widely available, affordable and the most used radiological imaging method to characterize bone disease, including specific features of CKD (Figure 3).  Plain x-rays can provide information about high bone remodeling and mineralization failure. 

Figure 3. Standard Skeletal Radiography images: (A) Left lower arrow, sub periosteal resorption of the distal phalanx of the middle finger, and at the intermediate phalanx of the index finger as indicated by the right upper arrow in a hemodialysis patient, virtually pathognomonic of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. (B) Image of a “brown tumor” at the distal radius metaphyseal as indicated by the arrow. It is a well-limited lytic lesion with endosteal scalloping, one of the possible manifestations of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. (C) Periarticular calcifications of the glenohumeral ligaments, appearing as cloud-like densities that diffuse into the adjacent tenosynovial tissues. (D) “Salt and pepper” aspect of the calvaria seen as well-defined lucencies suggesting bone resorption. (E) Lateral spine X-ray can be used to assess vertebral fracture in a hemodialysis patient. (F) Multiple oblique spiral fractures in the proximal, middle and distal third of the humerus in a hemodialysis patient with osteomalacia.

Osteosclerosis is an additional feature of SHPT occurring predominantly in the axial skeleton and often detected on lateral lumbar spine radiographs [24] affecting the superior and inferior endplates (“rugger jersey spine”), this is mostly due to deposition of mineral crystals and calcification in the collagenous portion of the endplates. Conventional x-rays also identify extra-skeletal calcifications. Plain radiographs may also reveal the now rare entity of amyloid arthropathy, characterized by subchondral erosions [28], often located in periarticular bone and at the site of ligamentous insertions [29]. 

3.2. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry

DXA is valuable for the quantification of BMD and the evaluation of fracture risk [30]. Axial measurement of the lumbar spine and hip (central DXA) using a stationary scan table is the most common modality. The technique produces little radiation and obtains a rapidly acquired two-dimensional (areal) image with good resolution.

3.3. DXA-Derived Trabecular Bone Score (TBS)

The trabecular bone score (TBS) is another available and validated tool that evaluates trabecular microarchitecture through BMD measures obtained at the lumbar spine by DXA [44]. An advantage of TBS is that overlapping vascular calcifications and degenerative changes do not interfere with its measurement. Patients on hemodialysis have a significantly lower TBS than controls without osteoporosis, and this is independent of BMD or other covariates (1.15 ± 0.181 vs. 1.32 ± 0.123, p = 0.001, respectively) [46].

3.4. Radiographic Absorptiometry (RA)

DXA and TBS techniques may not be widely available because of their relatively high capital cost and lack of expertise in many non-industrialized countries. In this case, RA could be an alternative approach for the evaluation of BMD. RA is both rapid and inexpensive because it does not require dedicated equipment. RA measures the second metacarpal mid-shaft BMD by using X-ray radiographs, combined with digital image processing (DIP) and a computed X-ray densitometer to improve the precision and accuracy [53,54]. Several studies have shown that RA-based BMD assessment can reliably be used for the estimation of fracture risk in post-menopausal women [55]. In hemodialysis patients, a recent study in 456 hemodialysis patients demonstrate that lower metacarpal BMD measured by DIP-assisted RA predicts the risk of osteoporotic fractures [56].

3.6. High Resolution-Peripheral Quantitative Computerized Tomography (HR-pQCT)

HR-pQCT provides excellent spatial resolution, differentiating trabecular from cortical bone and using a lower radiation dose (Figure 5).

Figure 5. High resolution-peripheral quantitative computerized tomography (HR-pQCT): Analysis of trabecular and cortical microarchitecture proximally and distally at ulnar and radial level. 

3.7. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Whereas HR-pQCT is more limited to peripheral skeleton regions like the radius and tibia, MRI can also image sites such as the proximal femur, but usually with lower spatial resolution (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging: (A) Bilateral metaphyseal femoral fractures distal to the lesser trochanter with reactional associated bone edema in a hemodialysis patient with osteomalacia. (B) Osteoporotic lumbar spine compression fracture at T11, T12, L1, L3 and L4 vertebral body that is hyperintense on T2 and shows vivid contrast enhancement with paravertebral soft tissue edema.

3.8. Other Imaging Techniques

Nuclear imaging techniques based on radiotracer accumulation can be used for determining the extent, progression and for monitoring of systemic diseases. Positron energy tomography (PET) scanning is a noninvasive quantitative imaging technique that estimates bone turnover [68] through the measurement of fluoride activity in the bone. Bone formation rate [69], osteoclast, osteoblast, erosion and mineralized surfaces correlate with the tracer intake. PET was superior to PTH in differentiating patients with low from high bone turnover in 26 hemodialysis patients [68]. Ultrasound (US) velocity at the tibia was found to be significantly lower in 42 hemodialysis patients when compared to the control group indicating cortical deterioration related to the degree of SHPT [70]. More studies are needed to validate US as a screen and diagnosis tool regarding the evaluation of CKD-MBD.

Finally, HR-MRI, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and quantitative backscatter electron imaging [71] are also currently being used in research studies. To date, none of these techniques can be recommended for use in clinical care.

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/diagnostics11050772