Children with back pain - a radiologist's approach

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Radiology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Back pain is a common presenting symptom in pediatric patients.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a crucial tool for evaluating spinal conditions in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in pediatric patients experiencing back pain.
• To determine the prevalence and types of abnormalities detected via MRI in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 328 pediatric patient records from 2020-2022.
• Inclusion criteria: back pain as the dominant symptom (20% of referrals).
• Utilized 3T Magnetom Spectra for spine examinations.

Main Results:

• 53% (36 of 68) of pediatric patients with back pain showed MRI abnormalities.
• Common diagnoses included degenerative changes (28%), oncological conditions (25%), and inflammation (19%).
• Other findings involved trauma and intervertebral disc calcifications.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric back pain, especially with neurological symptoms, warrants thorough investigation.
• While many MRI scans are normal, persistent symptoms and neurological deficits necessitate advanced imaging.
• MRI can expedite accurate diagnosis and guide appropriate management for pediatric spinal conditions.