title: [Diagnostic imaging in child abuse].
abstract: Diagnostic imaging in child abuse plays an important role and includes the depiction of skeletal injuries, soft tissue lesions, visceral injuries in "battered child syndrome" and brain injuries in "shaken baby syndrome". The use of appropriate imaging modalities allows specific fractures to be detected, skeletal lesions to be dated and the underlying mechanism of the lesion to be described. The imaging results must be taken into account when assessing the clinical history, clinical findings and differential diagnoses. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations must be performed in order to detect lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) immediately. CT is necessary in the initial diagnosis to delineate oedema and haemorrhages. Early detection of brain injuries in children with severe neurological symptoms can prevent serious late sequelae. MRI is performed in follow-up investigations and is used to describe residual lesions, including parenchymal findings.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Pädiatrische Radiologie, CC6, Diagnostische und interventionelle Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, Germany. Brigitte.stoever@charite.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stöver
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D038642:Shaken Baby Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging