Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
10:33
Advanced Diffusion Imaging in The Hippocampus of Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 14, 2019
8.6K
Imaging findings in abusive head trauma (AHT)
Inès Mannes1, Cyrine Drissi2, Catherine Adamsbaum2,3
1Pediatric Radiology Department, AP-HP, Bicêtre Hospital, 78 rue du Général Leclerc, 94270, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. ines.mannes@aphp.fr.
Summary
Accurate brain imaging is crucial for diagnosing abusive head trauma (AHT) in children. This review details common neuro-imaging findings and diagnostic challenges, emphasizing the radiologist's role.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Child Abuse Detection
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a severe form of child maltreatment.
- Timely diagnosis of AHT is critical to prevent neurological sequelae and mortality.
- Radiologists are central to the multidisciplinary team for AHT detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline common neuro-imaging patterns associated with AHT.
- To highlight the importance of lesion dating in AHT cases.
- To discuss differential diagnoses for suspected AHT.
Main Methods:
- Review of common neuro-imaging findings in AHT.
- Focus on extra-axial, intra-axial, bony, and ligamentous injuries.
- Emphasis on chronological assessment of injuries and differential diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Detailed description of characteristic AHT neuro-imaging patterns.
- Discussion of challenges in accurately dating injuries.
- Exploration of conditions that mimic AHT on imaging.
Conclusions:
- Neuro-imaging is essential for identifying AHT in children.
- Accurate interpretation requires understanding specific injury patterns and dating.
- Radiological expertise is vital for confirming abuse and guiding clinical management.
