title: Child abuse.
abstract: Child abuse is common in most, if not all, Western nations; it probably occurs worldwide. It may be a major factor in the increase in violence throughout much of the world. Radiologists who treat children should think of the possibility of abuse whenever they diagnose a fracture, intracranial bleed, or visceral injury, especially when the history is not compatible with their findings. Metaphyseal "corner" fractures in infants usually are caused by abuse. Less than 20% of abused children, however, present injuries that can be recognized by radiologic techniques. Consequently normal roentgenograms, nuclear medicine scans, ultrasound studies, and computed tomograms do not exclude child abuse.
mesh_terms: D002649:Child Abuse; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D006958:Hyperostosis, Cortical, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007179:Incest; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D007706:Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000699:Pain Insensitivity, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D011859:Radiography; D012614:Scurvy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012742:Sex Offenses; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*