Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure
Published on: July 30, 2009
Imaging of back pain in children
1Harvard Medical School and Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Insights
Pediatric back pain requires careful diagnosis and treatment planning. This review covers the epidemiology, imaging, and common causes of back pain in children, aiding clinical decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Back pain is less common in children but clinically challenging.
- Underlying pathology is often suspected in pediatric patients seeking medical attention for back pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology of pediatric back pain.
- To outline the recommended imaging work-up for children with back pain.
- To correlate imaging findings with common pediatric pathologies causing back pain.
Main Methods:
- Clinical history and physical examination.
- Age- and size-appropriate imaging work-up based on initial findings.
- Review of common pediatric diseases causing back pain, from athletic injuries to cancers.
Main Results:
- Epidemiological data on pediatric back pain.
- Guidelines for imaging modalities in pediatric back pain evaluation.
- Correlation between imaging results and specific diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- A systematic approach involving clinical evaluation and targeted imaging is crucial for diagnosing pediatric back pain.
- Understanding common pathologies and their imaging features aids in effective management.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are vital for favorable outcomes in pediatric back pain cases.
Abstract:
While back pain presents less frequently in children than in adults, it still poses a significant clinical challenge with respect to making a firm diagnosis and developing an effective treatment plan. When children have back pain and medical attention is sought, an underlying pathology is usually suspected. Pediatric patients are evaluated, first, with a complete clinical history and examination and, second, by an imaging work-up that is based on initial findings, including the child's age and size, signs and symptoms, and suspected etiology. This article describes 1) the epidemiology of back pain in children, 2) the imaging work-up used, and 3) the correlation of imaging findings with disease entities that may cause back pain in the pediatric patient. The list of diseases giving rise to back pain is not meant to be exhaustive but rather reflective of the most commonly identified pathologies and disorders among young children and adolescents, from athletic injuries to lethal cancers.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
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...
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...
Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies
X-ray Imaging
![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)