title: [Acute osteomyelitis in young children--a diagnostic challenge].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute osteomyelitis in young children poses a diagnostic challenge. Signs and symptoms are often not well defined and blood tests (SR, CRP etc.) are often of limited value. Standard roentgenograms do not preclude the diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present eight cases of acute osteomyelitis in children under the age of two, seen at the Child Centre, at Ullevaal University Hospital during the last year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scintigraphic interpretation failed to reveal the diagnosis in two cases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was shown to be a more reliable method. Only a few biopsies were done.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Examination of children suspected of suffering from an osteomyelitis should include both a bone scintigraphy, MRI, and to the extent possible a needle biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Barnemedisinsk avdeling, Ullevål sykehus, 0407 Oslo. karl-olaf.wathne@ulleval.no
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Wathne
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babovic
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nordshus
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging