Dense transverse metaphyseal lines (mnemonic)

Common causes of dense transverse metaphyseal lines can be remembered using the mnemonics:

  • DENSE LINES
  • PRINCES

Mnemonics

DENSE LINES
PRINCES
  • P: poisoning (lead, mercury, antimony, etc.)
  • Rrickets
  • I: infection (TORCH); idiopathic hypercalcemia
  • N: normal variant; neoplastic (leukemia, lymphoma)
  • C: congenital syphilis
  • E: endocrine (congenital hypothyroidism)
  • S: sickle cell disease; scurvy

See also