High-density shadow in the ribs may be metastasis or may be caused by benign lesions. If high-density shadow is found in the ribs on X-ray chest film, first of all, we should be alert to the possibility of malignant tumor metastasis to bone, because the metastasis of cancer cells to bone can be divided into two categories: osteolytic and osteogenic, with osteolytic metastasis showing low-density shadow and osteogenic metastasis showing high-density shadow. Most of the metastases to bone are mainly osteolytic in nature, while a few are osteogenic. At the same time, some benign diseases may also show high-density shadow, for example, rib fractures may show high-density shadow on chest X-ray after healing, bone tuberculosis may also show high-density shadow, and some benign osteogenic lesions, such as osteomalacia, may show high-density shadow on X-ray chest film. Of course, according to the characteristics of the high-density shadow combined with the accompanying clinical manifestations, it is generally not difficult to distinguish benign and malignant lesions, but the important thing is to pay attention to the high-density shadow if found, and go to the doctor as soon as possible to find out the cause.