Cross-Roads of Thoracic and Musculoskeletal Imaging Findings in Systemic Disorders

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Systemic disorders often exhibit intricate manifestations affecting several organ systems, particularly the pulmonary and musculoskeletal systems. The lungs and thoracic cage can simultaneously be affected by various systemic conditions, providing clues towards the specific etiology of pulmonary disease, and aiding in the timely diagnosis and management of the associated systemic condition. Additionally, the bony lesions may affect regional osseous structures, e.g., the adjacent humerus, scapula, and clavicle, and present with key imaging features and patterns aiding in diagnosis. The general-, chest-, and musculoskeletal radiologists should be aware of the lung, chest wall, and other osseous findings on multimodality imaging in common systemic conditions to help render timely and accurate diagnosis and aid in interdisciplinary care of such patients. This article reviews common systemic diseases and conditions in the crosshairs of musculoskeletal and cardiothoracic radiology and their key and supportive imaging findings. Specifically, hematopoietic disorders, collagen vascular disease, inflammatory arthropathy, metabolic disorders, and neurocutaneous syndromes are covered in this article. The readers will be able to apply the presented diagnostic information in their practice to help patients with systemic conditions achieve timely diagnosis and proper management.