Retinal hemorrhage and pediatric brain injury: etiology and review of the literature.
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.
Aryan
Henry E
HE
Division of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, California 92103-8893, USA. hearyan@ucsd.edu
Ghosheh
Faris R
FR
Jandial
Rahul
R
Levy
Michael L
ML
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