General Considerations

• Dense metaphyseal, trabecular lines
• Seen in children but persist into adulthood
• First thought to represent periods of nutritional deprivation or infectious pathogens during the time of bone growth
  • May occur after prolonged immobilization or generalized illness
• During these periods, bone growth is presumed to slow down
• The lines do not become visible until after normal growth resumes
• Subsequent investigation does not confirm a definitive relationship between their occurrence and episodes of deprivation but of periods of rapid growth

Clinical Findings

• Prolonged previous illness or infectious disease

Imaging Findings

• Symmetrical, thin white lines
• Perpendicular to long axis of bone
• Metaphyseal at first
• Most marked in rapidly growing ends of bones, e.g. distal femur and proximal tibia
• They migrate towards the diaphysis with further growth and may disappear

 

Growth Arrest/Recovery Lines. Transverse dense lines (black arrows) perpendicular to the long axis
of the bone in the metaphysis and migrate towards the diaphysis with growth may indicate
a previous prolonged illness or debilitating state.
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