title: Retinal hemorrhage and pediatric brain injury: etiology and review of the literature.
abstract: Retinal hemorrhages have long been linked with child abuse and, in particular, the "shaken baby/shaking-impact" syndrome. However, the presence of retinal hemorrhages is neither necessary nor sufficient for the diagnosis of child abuse. Additionally, retinal hemorrhages are also associated with an ever-expanding list of conditions, each of which carries important implications for patients and their families. To correctly interpret a patient's retinal hemorrhages, the physician requires a broad knowledge base, including of child abuse, the "shaken baby/shaking-impact" syndrome, the differential diagnosis of retinal hemorrhages and the types of retinal hemorrhage and their diagnostic implications. We review the literature regarding types of retinal hemorrhage and their associated etiologies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, California 92103-8893, USA. hearyan@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Henry E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Aryan
authors.forename: Faris R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Ghosheh
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jandial
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications; D010372:Pediatrics; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications