[Child abuse: imaging of multiorgan damages]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric medicine
• Radiology
• Forensic pathology

Context:

• Child abuse presents a wide spectrum of injuries, some specific to abuse.
• Skeletal, head, and chest lesions are most common.
• Head injuries account for 80% of fatalities in abused children.

Purpose:

• To highlight the diagnostic importance of medical imaging in identifying child abuse.
• To emphasize the specificity of certain lesions in child abuse cases.
• To underscore the potential for severe neurological deficits and fatalities.

Summary:

• Abused children exhibit diverse lesions, with skeletal injuries to long bones, head, and chest being frequent.
• Head trauma, causing neurological deficits, is responsible for 80% of child abuse deaths.
• Abdominal injuries, though less frequent, are often lethal and can be misdiagnosed.

Impact:

• Conventional radiology, CT, and MRI are vital for detecting multiorgan damage indicative of child abuse.
• Early and accurate diagnosis through imaging can prevent further harm and fatalities.
• Understanding specific injury patterns aids in forensic investigations and child protection.