title: Childhood osteomyelitis: imaging characteristics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this review is to illustrate the imaging findings of childhood osteomyelitis. The diagnosis of childhood osteomyelitis can be challenging. Clinical presentation and laboratory results can differ and are relatively unreliable. To date, its role in the assessment of treatment efficacy is not yet clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review article provides an overview of the different imaging modalities and imaging characteristics of childhood osteomyelitis. Levels of evidence for different modalities are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Paediatric radiology plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of childhood osteomyelitis and can also be used to guide therapy and intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although imaging is essential in the diagnostic process, cooperation between the physician and radiologist remains the cornerstone in accurately diagnosing childhood osteomyelitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of childhood osteomyelitis.                                                  • Cooperation between the clinician and radiologist is a very important aspect of making the diagnosis.                                                  • The initial imaging modality in childhood osteomyelitis is conventional imaging.                                                  • Normal conventional imaging does not exclude osteomyelitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center/Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, j.vanschuppen@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Schuppen
authors.forename: Martine M A C
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Doorn
authors.forename: Rick R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: van Rijn