Does x-ray detect bone metastases?

Not great: X-RAYs are relatively insensitive in the detection of early or small metastatic lesions. Although CT scans are superior, CT scanning is relatively insensitive in showing small lesions, and it has the disadvantage of limited skeletal coverage. Bone scans are very sensitive (they'll pick up everything) but nonspecific (could be just arthritis). MRI and PET scanning are accurate but very expensive.

X-ray of a bone can: show a lucent area or lucency that shows when 30-40% of the calcium in a bone area is washed out or lost. One cause of a lucent region or area is metastases. Other ways to investigate this is via a bone scan which shows bone turnover. An MRI will detect changes in the water composiotn in an area sn may show a metastatic lesson as well. X-ray can miss OR overcall one. IT is just one test used