Radiology
Radiological examinations are an important tool in the evaluation of the child/adolescent suspected of having injuries from abuse. These examinations are used to identify acute injury and to evaluate for previous injury. These examinations should be performed at a facility with an appropriately skilled radiology team. A pediatric radiologist, if available, will have a significant role in the diagnosis of child abuse by identifying injuries that were previously unsuspected (occult) or unexplained. For example, rib fractures in infants, a suspicious finding for child abuse, may be found incidentally on a chest X-ray obtained for another reason, such as wheezing or respiratory distress. After bruises, fractures are the second most common injury from physical abuse (Palusci et al 2024).
A radiological examination does not substitute for and cannot be used effectively without an appropriate history and physical examination. Radiological examinations should only be performed when the child/adolescent's clinical condition allows for them to be done safely. Knowing the protocol for obtaining X-rays at your healthcare facility will maximize the quality of information obtained.
Key Concepts
- Consent for Radiologic Imaging
- Recommended Radiological Studies Overview
- Abusive Head Trauma
- Skull Fractures
- Intracranial Injury
- Intracranial Manifestations of Trauma
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) versus Computed Tomography (CT) for Evaluation of Intracranial Injuries
- Extremity Fractures and Skeletal Survey
- Diaphyseal Fractures
- Skeletal Survey
- Complete Skeletal Survey Imaging
- Cervical Spine Concerns
- Specificity of Fractures for Abuse
- Thoracic Trauma Imaging
- Skeletal Trauma
- Spinal Injuries
- Rib Fractures
- Intrathoracic Trauma
- Abdominal Trauma Imaging
- Radiologic Evaluation of Siblings and Other Contact Children
- Imaging in Other Maltreatment Situations
- References and Resources
