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Published in: Pediatric Radiology 6/2021

01-05-2021 | Subdural Hematoma | Child abuse imaging

Venous injury in pediatric abusive head trauma: a pictorial review

Authors: George Koshy Vilanilam, Sateesh Jayappa, Shivang Desai, Giulio Zuccoli, Raghu H. Ramakrishnaiah, Arabinda K. Choudhary

Published in: Pediatric Radiology | Issue 6/2021

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Abstract

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the leading cause of fatal head injuries in children younger than 2 years. An intracranial pathology can exist even in the setting of a normal physical exam. A delay in the diagnosis of AHT can have serious life-threatening consequences for the child and increases the potential the child will be abused again. In this article, we review the traumatic subdural hematoma as well as various morpho-structural patterns of shearing injuries and thrombosis of intracranial bridging veins. This work serves as a summary of patterns of imaging features of intracranial venous injury in AHT, as described in the literature, to facilitate familiarity and early detection of abusive head trauma in the pediatric population. Essentially, in AHT there is a traumatic injury to the bridging vein with either partial or complete tear. This can secondarily result in thrombosis at the terminal end of the bridging vein with blood clots adjacent to the bridging vein.
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Metadata
Title
Venous injury in pediatric abusive head trauma: a pictorial review
Authors
George Koshy Vilanilam
Sateesh Jayappa
Shivang Desai
Giulio Zuccoli
Raghu H. Ramakrishnaiah
Arabinda K. Choudhary
Publication date
01-05-2021
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Pediatric Radiology / Issue 6/2021
Print ISSN: 0301-0449
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1998
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-021-05016-9

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