[Diagnostic imaging in child abuse].

[child syndrome]

Diagnostic imaging in child abuse plays an important role and includes the depiction of skeletal injuries , soft tissue lesions , visceral injuries in "battered child syndrome " and brain injuries in "shaken baby syndrome ". The use of appropriate imaging modalities allows specific fractures to be detected , skeletal lesions to be dated and the underlying mechanism of the lesion to be described . The imaging results must be taken into account when assessing the clinical history , clinical findings and differential diagnoses . Computed tomography (CT ) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI ) examinations must be performed in order to detect lesions of the central nervous system (CNS ) immediately . CT is necessary in the initial diagnosis to delineate oedema and haemorrhages . Early detection of brain injuries in children with severe neurological symptoms can prevent serious late sequelae . MRI is performed in follow-up investigations and is used to describe residual lesions , including parenchymal findings .