Frequency of technical success of ultrasound-guided arthrogram injections in children.

BACKGROUND: MR arthrography is an essential diagnostic tool to assess and guide management of labral, ligamentous, fibrocartilaginous, and capsular abnormalities in children. While fluoroscopy is traditionally used for intra-articular contrast administration, ultrasound offers advantages of portability and lack of ionizing radiation exposure for both the patient and proceduralist. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study is to quantify technical success and frequency of complications of ultrasound-guided arthrogram injections at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective analysis investigates the results of 217 ultrasound-guided arthrograms of the shoulder, elbow, and hip in patients aged 5-18 years. Successful injection of contrast into the target joint, clinical indication for MR arthrography, and complications were reviewed. RESULTS: Accurate ultrasound-guided intra-articular administration of contrast into the target joint was successful for 100% of shoulder cases (90/90), 97% of elbow cases (77/79), and 98% of hip cases (47/48). Leak of contrast outside the target joint occurred in 1.4% (3/217) of cases. No major side effects including excessive bleeding, paresthesia, allergic reactions, or infection occurred during or after the procedure. Additionally, no major vessel, nerve, or tendon complications were observed on MR images. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound guidance is a reliable, effective, and safe approach to arthrography in children.

Symptomatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Without Accompanying Intracranial Injury Because of Child Abuse.

ABSTRACT: Although spinal ligamentous injuries and extra-axial hemorrhages are known to commonly accompany abusive head trauma (AHT), symptomatic and radiological apparent cervical spinal cord injuries are rare. Of the 16 previously reported cases, 3 such cord injuries lacked the accompanying intracranial injuries of AHT. We report an additional child who developed symptomatic central cervical cord syndrome, with accompanying cervical imaging findings, but no intracranial AHT injuries. The mechanism of trauma for this child and the other children without intracranial injury remains unclear. However, 1 additional reported child sustained similar injuries when she was held by her head and shaken. It is likely that as cervical magnetic resonance imaging becomes more common in AHT, more cases will be recognized.

Short Falls in Childhood Occasionally Cause Major Brain Injuries Because of Unusual Circumstances.

METHODS: Records and imaging were reviewed for children younger than 6 years, hospitalized between 2015 and 2020 for major closed head injuries following less than 4-ft falls. Major injury was defined as intensive care admission more than 2 days, neurosurgical intervention, death, or disability at hospital discharge. Subjects were identified through Seattle and Spokane, Washington abuse consultations. Harborview Medical Center's trauma registry and Seattle Children's Hospital's Hemophilia Treatment Program and Radiology were searched for subjects. RESULTS: We identified 12 young children who sustained major closed head injury due to short falls. Seven developed major space-occupying epidural hemorrhages. One child developed internal hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage. One child with prior meningomyelocele, Chiari 2 malformation, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt developed shunt decompensation after an acute-on-chronic subdural hemorrhage. One child developed an internal capsule stroke because of a previously undiagnosed calcifying angiopathy. Another child developed space-occupying subdural hemorrhage associated with previously unrecognized platelet pool disorder. Only this child had abuse concerns, which were resolved with his coagulopathy diagnosis. One child had a diastatic skull fracture leading to pseudomeningocele.At Harborview Medical Center, 140 children were seen for short falls in the emergency department or inpatient service. Among the 40 needing intensive care, 4 (12.5%) had major injuries after short falls. Our hemophilia treatment program did not see any children who had sustained major injury following a short fall in a 5½ year period. CONCLUSIONS: Although young children rarely sustain major head injury following short falls, serious head injuries do occasionally occur because of unusual injury mechanisms or preexisting conditions. It is important to fully evaluate these patients to differentiate these unintentional falls from abusive head injury.

The undulating line sign and other more common pediatric central catheter malpositions.

Central venous and arterial catheters are among the most commonly assessed support devices by radiologists. The position of these catheters must be carefully assessed to ensure proper placement, as malpositioning may lead to life-threatening consequences. Therefore, it is important for radiologists to understand the anatomy of the central vessels and the expected location of catheters. While this can be difficult in small children and especially in neonates, knowledge of the expected course and ideal termination of catheters allows for recognition of a malpositioned line, which may be unsuspected clinically. The purpose of this article is to discuss appropriate positioning of central catheters in pediatric patients, focusing primarily on venous catheters. We also propose a new radiographic sign to recognize, the undulating line sign, as an indication of an inappropriate course of a newly placed venous catheter.

The current and future roles of artificial intelligence in pediatric radiology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a broad and complicated concept that has begun to affect many areas of medicine, perhaps none so much as radiology. While pediatric radiology has been less affected than other radiology subspecialties, there are some well-developed and some nascent applications within the field. This review focuses on the use of AI within pediatric radiology for image interpretation, with descriptive summaries of the literature to date. We highlight common features that enable successful application of the technology, along with some of the limitations that can inhibit the development of this field. We present some ideas for further research in this area and challenges that must be overcome, with an understanding that technology often advances in unpredictable ways.

Improving the detection of ventricular shunt disruption using volume-rendered three-dimensional head computed tomography.

Hydrocephalus is the most common neurosurgical disorder in children, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion with shunt placement is the most commonly performed pediatric neurosurgical procedure. CT is frequently used to evaluate children with suspected CSF shunt malfunction to assess change in ventricular size. Moreover, careful review of the CT images is important to confirm the integrity of the imaged portions of the shunt system. Subtle shunt disruptions can be missed on multiplanar two-dimensional (2-D) CT images, especially when the disruption lies in the plane of imaging. The use of volume-rendered CT images enables radiologists to view the extracranial shunt tubing within the field of view as a three-dimensional (3-D) object. This allows for a rapid and intuitive method of assessing the integrity of the extracranial shunt tubing. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to discuss how volume-rendered CT images can be generated to evaluate CSF shunts in the pediatric population and to provide several examples of their utility in diagnosing shunt disruption. We also address the potential pitfalls of this technique and ways to avoid them.

Palpable pediatric chest wall masses.

Pediatric chest wall lesions are varied in etiology ranging from normal and benign to aggressive and malignant. When palpable, these lesions can alarm parents and clinicians alike. However, most palpable pediatric chest lesions are benign. Familiarity with the various entities, their incidences, and how to evaluate them with imaging is important for clinicians and radiologists. Here we review the most relevant palpable pediatric chest entities, their expected appearance and the specific clinical issues to aid in diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Are Complex Skull Fractures Indicative of Either Child Abuse or Major Trauma in the Era of 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography Imaging?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether complex skull fractures are more indicative of child abuse or major trauma than simple skull fractures. DESIGN: This is a retrospective chart and imaging review of children diagnosed with a skull fracture. Subjects were from 2 pediatric tertiary care centers. Children younger than 4 years who underwent a head computed tomography with 3-dimensional rendering were included. We reviewed the medical records and imaging for type of skull fracture, abuse findings, and reported mechanism of injury. A complex skull fracture was defined as multiple fractures of a single skull bone, fractures of more than 1 skull bone, a nonlinear fracture, or diastasis of greater than 3 mm. Abuse versus accident was determined at the time of the initial evaluation with child abuse physician team confirmation. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2012, 287 subjects were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code. The 147 subjects with a cranial vault fracture and available 3-dimensional computed tomography composed this study's subjects. The average age was 12.3 months. Seventy four (50.3%) had complex and 73 (49.7%) had simple fractures. Abuse was determined in 6 subjects (4.1%), and a determination could not be made for 5 subjects. Adding abused children from 2013 to 2014 yielded 15 abused subjects. Twelve of the abused children (80%) had complex fractures; more than the 66 (48.5%) of 136 accidentally injured children (P = 0.001; relative risk = 1.65 [1.21-2.24]). However, among children with a complex fracture, the positive predictive value for abuse was only 7%. CONCLUSIONS: Complex skull fractures frequently occur from accidental injuries. This study suggests that the presence of complex skull fractures should not be used alone when making a determination of abuse.

The Many Faces of Pediatric Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis (CRMO): A Practical Location- and Case-Based Approach to Differentiate CRMO From Its Mimics.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is an autoinflammatory bone disease of childhood and adolescence characterized by episodic bone pain. Diagnosis relies heavily on whole-body MRI and is made by excluding a wide variety of other disorders with overlapping imaging features, depending on location, marrow distribution, and the presence or absence of multifocality. We present an overview of the clinical and imaging features of CRMO and, through various clinical scenarios, provide tips for tailoring the differential diagnosis based on location and distribution of encountered abnormalities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 3.

Ultrasound Evaluation of Pediatric Slow-Flow Vascular Malformations: Practical Diagnostic Reporting to Guide Interventional Management.

OBJECTIVE. This article reviews the ultrasound characteristics of pediatric slow-flow vascular malformations and underscores findings that significantly impact diagnosis and treatment. Key imaging features are discussed including lesion size, malformation location, morphology, and mimics. CONCLUSION. Ultrasound findings affect the management of slow-flow vascular malformations and should be emphasized in lesion diagnosis. Superficial, focal lesions with well-defined margins are ideal for ultrasound evaluation.

Delays in care seeking for young children with accidental skull fractures are common.

AIM: We sought to determine the frequency and patterns of delayed medical care seeking for young children with skull fractures. METHODS: We identified accidental skull fractures <4 years old, 2011-2012. Child abuse paediatricians abstracted retrospective data and paediatric radiologists re-reviewed images. 'Delays' were defined as presentation at ≥6 h. 'Minor accidents' included falls <4 feet and low force trauma, while 'major accidents' included higher height falls and major force events. We studied the frequency and duration of care delays, the signs or symptoms leading to care, and the duration of delays after signs or symptoms developed. RESULTS: Two hundred and ten children had accidental skull fractures. Delays were less likely with major accidents (4.9%), than with minor accidents (25.8%) (RR = 0.32 [0.15-0.70]). Children came to care for scalp swelling (STS) (39%), the injury event (36.2%), altered consciousness (15.2%) and vomiting (10.5%). Delayed onset of STS (78.6%) caused most delayed care. Early STS was firm, (17.6%) versus delayed (5.0%), as opposed to soft or fluctuant. CONCLUSION: Delayed care seeking is common for minor, but not major accidental infant and toddler skull fractures. Most followed delayed onset of signs and symptoms. Delayed care seeking alone should not imply child abuse.

Contemporary imaging of the pediatric shoulder: pearls and pitfalls.

In skeletally immature patients, the presence of growth plates and articular cartilage of the shoulder can create a predisposition for unique injuries not observed in adults. Furthermore, increasing participation in sports by children and adolescents appears to be leading to a corresponding increase in the number of sports-related injuries. The importance of radiologists being familiar with pediatric shoulder imaging and its associated injuries is therefore growing. In this article, we review the normal development and maturation pattern of ossification centers of the shoulder from the early gestational period through adolescence. Brachial plexus birth palsy, physeal injuries, shoulder dislocation, and internal impingement are discussed within the context of the child's age and the mechanism of injury to guide radiologists to a correct diagnosis.

Delayed Subaponeurotic Fluid Collections: A Benign Cause of Scalp Swelling in Infancy.

ABSTRACT: Delayed subaponeurotic fluid collections (DSFCs) are a recently described cause of idiopathic scalp swelling in young infants. Associated with traumatic birth and the use of vacuum-assisted devices or fetal scalp electrodes, DSFCs can be differentiated from similar causes of neonatal scalp swelling based on characteristic history and physical examination findings. In this article, we highlight 2 cases of young infants presenting to a pediatric emergency department with large, fluctuant scalp swellings, which were appropriately diagnosed as DSFCs; clinical data on an additional eight cases are presented in table format. In cases of isolated DSFCs in otherwise well-appearing infants, further laboratory work, imaging, subspecialty consultation, and child abuse investigation is not necessary. Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of DSFCs presented reflect the clinical experience of the authors in conjunction with a review of the available medical literature on this topic.

3 Cases of Inflicted Skull Crush Injuries in Infants.

ABSTRACT: We describe 3 infants with skull fractures that involved more than 1 skull bone. On further evaluation, 2 of the 3 infants had additional fractures at other sites of the body and the third infant had concerning bruising of the face. Although an accidental mechanism of injury was initially given as the history in each case, law enforcement investigations led all 3 fathers to confess to crushing their infants' skulls out of frustration. These crushes were caused by their arms or hands. Bilateral skull fractures or those involving more than 1 skull bone can be seen in falls as well as in crush injuries. A crush-like pattern of injury, in the absence of a clear and plausible accidental mechanism, should raise concerns for possible physical abuse especially in nonambulatory infants.

Atraumatic Spinal Epidural Hematoma as Initial Presentation of Hemophilia A in an Infant.

ABSTRACT: Hemophilia A is characterized by deficiency of factor VIII. We present a unique, illustrative case of an infant with a short history of neck pain and irritability without neurological deficits who was found to have a spinal epidural hematoma. The subsequent investigation for the etiology, including workup for nonaccidental trauma, led to a diagnosis of severe hemophilia A.

Multiple Abusive Fractures in an Infant With a Concurrent Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide-Secreting Renal Tumor: Abusive Fractures Accompanying a Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide-Secreting Tumor.

BACKGROUND: When evaluating an infant with unexplained fractures for child abuse, it is important to evaluate for possible causes of underlying bone fragility. CASE: A 7-month-old infant was found to have a parathyroid hormone (PTH)-related peptide-secreting mesoblastic nephroma. In spite of having an elevated serum calcium, depressed serum phosphate, and high levels of PTH-related peptide, he had no demineralization or other hyper parathyroid-related bone changes. Instead, he had multiple classic metaphyseal lesions, fractures of differing ages including a proximal clavicle fracture, and current and past bruising. No fractures typical of bone insufficiency were present. These findings are highly indicative of abuse in addition to his hormone-secreting tumor. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of this child's abuse findings, endogenous or tumor-related hyper PTH should be in the differential of underlying bone fragility. Children with disorders that could cause injury susceptibility can also be abused.

Fracture-Associated Bruising and Soft Tissue Swelling in Young Children With Skull Fractures: How Sensitive Are They to Fracture Presence?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine how reliable scalp bruising and soft tissue swelling/cephalohematomas (STS) are for underlying young child skull fractures. METHODS: This was a retrospective clinical and imaging review from 2011 to 2012 of children younger than 4 years with skull fractures from 2 tertiary care hospitals. Imaging was reread by 3 pediatric radiologists. Descriptive statistics were utilized. The retrospective review had institutional review board approval. RESULTS: We identified 218 subjects for review: 210 unintentional and 8 abusive. One hundred forty-three had available 3-dimensional computed tomography reconstructions: 136 unintentional and 7 abused. Two-thirds were younger than 1 year. Twelve subjects had visible scalp bruising, but 73% had clinically and 93% radiologically apparent fracture-associated STS. There was no difference in clinical STS with simple (79%) versus complex (68%) fractures. Nor was there difference in subjects with fractures from minor (77%) versus major (70%) trauma. Unintentionally injured infants did not differ from abused for detectable STS (74% vs 50%). Parietal and frontal bones most frequently sustained fractures and most consistently had associated STS. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically apparent STS is present in approximately three-fourths of children with skull fractures. It may not be important to consistently identify skull fractures in unintentionally injured children. Point-of-care ultrasound may be adequate. For abuse concerns, it is important to identify skull fractures as evidence of cranial impacts and intracranial hemorrhages. The most sensitive, widely available imaging technique, cranial computed tomography scan with 3-dimensional skull reconstruction, should be utilized. Scalp bruising is present in a minority of young children with skull fractures. Its absence does not exclude cranial impact injury.

Scurvy Masquerading as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis or Vasculitis with Elevated Inflammatory Markers: A Case Series.

Ten patients with scurvy were evaluated by rheumatology; we review their clinical, laboratory, and dietary presentations. Eight patients had developmental delay or autism. All had elevated inflammatory markers. These clinical and laboratory features with imaging findings can mimic rheumatic conditions such as arthritis, vasculitis, and chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO).

Foot and Ankle Musculoskeletal Imaging of Pediatric Patients With Cerebral Palsy.

OBJECTIVE. Any combination of abnormal positioning of the ankle, hindfoot, midfoot, and forefoot is possible in the context of cerebral palsy, but some patterns are more common than others. The purpose of this article is to discuss the radiographic manifestations and surgical management of the following common conditions: equinus, equinoplanovalgus, equinocavovarus, vertical talus, oblique talus, hallux valgus, and ankle valgus. CONCLUSION. CP is defined by abnormalities of the developing fetal or infant brain that result in permanent central motor dysfunction. Foot and ankle deformities are very common in the patients with CP, occurring in up to 93% of such patients as a result of underlying abnormal muscle tone, impaired motor control, and dynamic muscle imbalance. Radiologists must develop knowledge of the most common changes in alignment and basic techniques for correction to better recognize abnormalities and improve communication with orthopedic colleagues.

Dual-Energy CT of Pediatric Abdominal Oncology Imaging: Private Tour of New Applications of CT Technology.

OBJECTIVE. Dual-energy CT is gaining increasing recognition as a valuable diagnostic tool for assessing abdominal neoplasms. Nevertheless, much of the literature has focused on its use in adults. This review article illustrates specific tools available with dual-energy CT in the evaluation of pediatric abdominal neoplasms. Additionally, common imaging artifacts and pitfalls in dual-energy CT of the pediatric abdomen are outlined. CONCLUSION. Dual-energy CT can augment diagnostic yield in the imaging evaluation of pediatric abdominal neoplasms.