Lesions that Mimic Musculoskeletal Infection: A Pictorial Essay

Musculoskeletal (MSK) infections, such as osteomyelitis, infectious arthritis and spondylitis have variable radiographic findings depending on their underlying cause and clinical infection stage. Other disease entities, ranging from simple degenerative lesions to tumorous bone conditions, in which there is no evidence of infectious origin, can share similar radiographic findings. It is important to be aware, when interpreting radiographic features that are typically associated with MSK infections, that a non-infectious MSK disease may be mimicking the radiographic findings of infectious diseases.