Osteomyelitis is infection of bone, which can become serious if not recognized and treated properly.
Symptoms may include bone pain, swelling, warmth, fever, difficulty using the affected limb, or a wound that is not healing well.
Imaging helps when bone infection is suspected, when doctors need to know how far it has spread, or when they are checking for abscess, joint involvement, or chronic change.
X-rays may be normal early on, while MRI is often more sensitive for showing bone infection and surrounding soft tissue involvement.
Treatment usually includes antibiotics and sometimes surgery depending on severity, chronicity, and response.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
