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Published on: July 2, 2021
Pediatric Pelvis
1Department of Pediatric Imaging and Regional Radiology, The Cleveland Clinic Imaging Institute, Cleveland, Ohio.
Insights
Understanding pediatric pelvic development is key to correctly interpreting imaging. This review covers normal maturation, variants, and common injuries to avoid misdiagnosis in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Skeletal Development
- Anatomy
Background:
- Pelvic ossification follows a predictable pattern during skeletal maturity.
- Growth centers (bone, synchondroses, apophyses) appear and close at specific times.
- Maturation causes structural changes in the pediatric pelvis visible on imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a multimodality review of normal pediatric pelvic maturation.
- To discuss common developmental variants that can mimic pathology.
- To describe common injuries unique to the pediatric pelvis.
Main Methods:
- Review of normal pelvic maturation across various imaging modalities.
- Discussion of developmental variants.
- Description of pediatric-specific pelvic injuries.
Main Results:
- Normal pelvic development involves predictable ossification patterns.
- Skeletal maturity stages present distinct imaging appearances.
- Developmental variants and normal features can be mistaken for pathology or injury.
Conclusions:
- Accurate interpretation of pediatric pelvic imaging requires knowledge of normal skeletal development.
- Understanding maturation prevents misdiagnosis of pathology and injury.
- This review aids radiologists in differentiating normal development from abnormalities.
Abstract:
The development of the pelvis follows a predictable pattern of ossification that involves the maturation of bone, synchondroses, and apophyses. These growth centers appear and close at distinct times during skeletal maturity and give rise to structural changes in the pelvis that can be distinctively appreciated on various imaging modalities. Accurate interpretation of radiologic images requires knowledge of skeletal development because the varying appearance of the maturing pediatric pelvis may be mistaken for pathology. In addition, many normal features within the pelvis can be erroneously perceived as injury. This article incorporates a multimodality review of normal pelvic maturation, a discussion of developmental variants, and a description of common injuries unique to the pediatric pelvis.
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