Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure
Published on: July 30, 2009
Imaging of back pain in children and adolescents
Nabil J Khoury1, Mukbil H Hourani, Mohammad M S Arabi
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. nk01@aub.edu.lb
Purpose:
To present the imaging findings of the wide spectrum of musculoskeletal diseases causing back pain in children and adolescents.
Discussion:
Back pain in children is a rare condition but may denote a serious health problem; hence, full clinical history, physical examination, and appropriate laboratory studies should be obtained. In this scientific exhibit, we present the imaging findings of the variable musculoskeletal diseases that are associated with back pain in children and adolescents. These disease processes include scoliosis of various causes; spondylolysis; spondylolisthesis; traumatic injuries; disc degeneration and herniation; Scheuermann's disease; spondylodiscitis; tumors (primary, secondary, hematogenous); and miscellaneous conditions (eg, metabolic disorders, sickle cell disease, osteoporosis).
Conclusion:
A wide spectrum of diseases causing back pain in children is presented. Radiologists should be aware of the imaging findings of this rather uncommon entity to help in reaching the appropriate diagnosis.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...
Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
Ultrasonography
During an ultrasonography procedure, a handheld device called a...
X-ray Imaging
Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies
![Quantitative [18F]-Naf-PET-MRI Analysis for the Evaluation of Dynamic Bone Turnover in a Patient with Facetogenic Low Back Pain](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F58491.jpg&w=3840&q=50)