title: [Incidental findings in musculoskeletal radiology].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing numbers of conventional X‑rays, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the inpatient, outpatient and scientific routine leads to an increasing number of incidental findings. The correct interpretation of these incidental findings with respect to the relevance and the evaluation concerning further work-up is an important task of radiologists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Description of common incidental findings in musculoskeletal imaging and their clinical classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PubMed literature search was performed using the following terms: incidental findings, population-based imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, non-ossifying fibroma, enchondroma, osteodystrophia deformans, chondrosarcoma, fibrous dysplasia, simple bone cyst, unicameral bone cyst, solitary bone cyst, aneurysmal bone cyst, vertebral hemangioma, bone island, osteopoikilosis, Tarlov cyst and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidental findings are observed in up to 40% of imaging procedures. In up to 6% these incidental findings involve the skeletal system. Common incidental findings are discussed and their clinical relevance is explained.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Deutschland. felix.wuennemann@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wünnemann
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rehnitz
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D017824:Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Clinical relevance; Further evaluation; Tumor; Tumor-like lesions; Vertebral column