| Modality | Stress fracture | Pathologic fracture |
| Radiograph | Endosteal thickening | Aggressive bone marrow pattern of destruction |
| Benign-appearing periosteal reaction | Mineralized matrix | |
| Absence of any aggressive features | Endosteal scalloping Aggressive periosteal reaction Associated soft tissue mass | |
| CT | Endosteal thickening | Aggressive bone marrow and cortical destruction |
| Benign-appearing periosteal reaction | Mineralized matrix | |
| Absence of any aggressive features | Endosteal scalloping Aggressive periosteal reaction Associated soft tissue mass | |
| MRI | Linear or band-like signal abnormality | Well-defined T1-weighted bone marrow abnormality |
| Surrounding bone marrow T2-weighted signal abnormality (edema) | Endosteal scalloping | |
| Absence of or ill-defined T1-weighted signal bone marrow abnormality | Massive muscle edema Associated soft tissue mass | |
| Scintigraphy | Focal or linear uptake | Diffuse uptake |
| PET scan | Focal or linear uptake | Diffuse uptake |
