Recognizing Child Abuse in Radiology

Alan E. Oestreich, MD, is a pediatric radiologist since 1980 at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is Emeritus Professor of radiology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. From 1972 - 1979 he was pediatric radiologist at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He a Fellow of the American College of Radiology, Honorary Member of the European Society of Paediatric Radiology, emeritus member of the Society for Pediatric Radiology, and past chairman of the Radiology Section of the National Medical Association. He is a member of the Child Abuse Team at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. He has written and lectured extensively on the subject of radiology of child abuse. Among his previous books are An Atlas of Pediatric Orthopedic Radiology, with co-author Alvin Crawford, MD. He received his MD from the Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1965. Marguerite M. Caré, MD is an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Caré joined the CCHMC faculty after completing a pediatric radiology fellowship in 1998 and a pediatric neuroradiology fellowship in 2000 at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She has been the radiology representative to the multidisciplinary Child Abuse Team at the CCHMC Mayerson Center since 1998 and has recently become the radiology representation to the CCHMC Trauma Surgical Program. Caré has a major interest in the neuroimaging findings in child abuse and has presented at both local and national meetings on this topic. She also has research interests in Tuberous Sclerosis with her neurology colleagues. Caré serves on the CCHMC Radiology Department education committee with a primary role in third year medical student education for the department.

Introduction.- Plain images.- Ultrasound, CT, MR, Nuclear Imaging, PET.- Rule out alternate diagnosis.- Neuroradiology.- Abdominal Thoracic, and subcutaneous abnormalities.- Beyond the images.- Contra the zealous abuse deniers.- Documenting concern for abuse.- Importance and role of non-radiologist child abuse team.- Conclusion.

"The book is very successful in addressing topics of difficulty in child abuse, including radiographic findings that may mimic abuse, as well as rickets and the straw man issues raised in child abuse. ... This book would be a fine addition to any department's library and would prove a valuable investment of a few of hours of reading. It would be particularly helpful in preparing a radiologist who may be asked to provide testimony in a child abuse court case." (Brent Adler, Pediatric Radiology, Vol. 48, 2018)

"The authors review the imaging findings of child abuse in the skeleton, nervous system, and solid organs. They also cover topics such as image acquisition and 'deniers' of abuse. The authors identify radiologists and general healthcare workers as an audience for the book. It is written at an appropriate level for this audience. The authors are from a well-respected children's imaging center." (Tara Catanzano, Doody's Book Reviews, September, 2017)