title: Management of pediatric central nervous system emergencies: a review for general radiologists.
abstract: To review the most common and most important diseases and disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) in pediatric emergencies, discussing the indications for different imaging tests in each context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In pediatric patients, acute neurologic symptoms (seizures, deteriorating level of consciousness, focal neurologic deficits, etc.) can appear in diverse clinical situations (trauma, child abuse, meningoencephalitis, ischemia…). It is important to decide on the most appropriate neuroimaging diagnostic algorithm for each situation and age group, as well as to know the signs of the most typical lesions that help us in the etiological differential diagnosis. Pediatric patients' increased vulnerability to ionizing radiation and the possible need for sedation in studies that require more time are factors that should be taken into account when indicating an imaging test. It is essential to weigh the risks and benefits for the patient and to avoid unnecessary studies.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Maternoinfantil Sant Joan de Dèu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: mrebollo@hsjdbcn.org.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rebollo Polo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011871:Radiology
keywords: CNS; Emergencies; Neuroimagen; Neuroimaging; Pediatrics; Pediatría; Sistema nervioso central; Urgencias