Radiographic Atlas Of Child Abuse

The radiological abnormalities associated with suspected child abuse can be extremely subtle. If missed, a baby or child may be returned to an environment where episodes of abuse may escalate. Similarly, a wrongful diagnosis can lead to an infant being removed from loving carers. This atlas will be of particular use to radiologists (both in training and at consultant level), and also to other doctors who may be first in line to encounter suspected abuse, including paediatricians, accident and emergency doctors, orthopaedic surgeons and pathologists. It uses numerous radiographs from Professor Hall's collection amassed over three decades, including many examples of the sorts of difficult cases and normal variants that are found in day to day practice. It offers assistance with the initial interpretation of what are often difficult and subtle findings in the emotionally charged environment that frequently exists when child abuse is suspected.

Child Abuse Pocket Atlas Series, Volume 4: Investigation, Documentation, and Radiology, part of an ongoing series on child abuse, offers nearly 500 full-color photos detailing proper approaches to crime scene investigation, physical and postmortem examinations, and photodocumentation.

This illustrated guide to the role of the forensic anthropologist in investigating child abuse is an essential resource in one of the most contentious areas of forensic pathology. Not only does it supply a review of the literature in this field, but it illustrates the material with photographs from real cases investigated by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, which serves a population of four million people. Broken down into body regions and skeletal elements for ease of reference, the atlas facilitates the vital work performed by forensic anthropologists, who bring to the autopsy table a store of specialist knowledge that can turn a case. Despite the frequency of child fatalities (in America, 2.3per 100,000) attributed to physical abuse, merely recognizing the offense is a major forensic challenge. The tell-tale signatures of non-accidental injury can be very subtle, making it difficult to differentiate between accidental and non-accidental injury. Yet successful adjudication of a child abuse case often rests on the correct interpretation of skeletal injury. In this volume the authors guide the reader through published data regarding the mechanics and interpretation of injuries,including the agencies they indicate. The material includes discussion of the limitations faced in interpreting some injuries, where making a judgment on cause is tricky. In addition, a chapter on natural diseases affecting the bones provides a good overview of several conditions that are often invoked as 'mimics' of child abuse. Finally, this publication evinces the value of collaboration between the pathologist and the anthropologist.

The results of aggression against humans can be hideously obvious, but may also be entirely concealed from casual inspection. Often, only exploration of the hidden recesses of the mind via psychiatric evaluation, or radiologic exploration of the inner recesses of the body can reveal the evidence of such violence. This book focuses on the latter.

Of all children reported to child protective services for suspected maltreatment in any form, the percentage of substantiated cases of actual physical abuse is quite small. There are a number of dermatological or radiologically demonstrable musculoskeletal lesions that have been, or could be mistaken for, intentional physical abuse by the inexperienced or untrained observer. Child Abuse and Its Mimics in Skin and Bone illustrates the classic manifestations of physical abuse by dermatological and radiological examination as a standard against which the mimickers of physical abuse can be compared. Beginning with a historical perspective on child abuse, the book explores manifestations of superficial and musculoskeletal trauma in children. It examines conditions often mistaken for child abuse, ranging from rubella to leukemia and bowing deformities to vitamin A intoxication, as well as a plethora of dermatological conditions that can mimic signs of physical abuse. Designed for a broad spectrum of individuals who may first encounter a possibly abused child, the book presents hundreds of photos—many in color—and examples collected by the authors over their years of experience in their respective fields. Where appropriate, the authors provide pertinent historical, physical, and laboratory information in support of the diagnosis. With the combined insight of top experts in forensic radiology and dermatology, this volume enables clinicians and others confronted with cases involving these conditions to avoid a rush to judgment that could wreak havoc in a family and quite possibly delay needed treatment for an actual medical condition.

This book is both a personal review of experience in the diagnosis of child abuse and its differential diagnosis, intended to instruct beginners, and a reliable source of information for the more experienced health care provider. Emphasis is placed on normal findings that simulate abuse, true and false diagnoses of metabolic bone disease as the cause of fractures, abusive head trauma, and the problem of zealous abuse-denying "experts." Plain radiography is emphasized, with appropriate mention of, ultrasound, CT, MRI, - in detecting childhood abuse is clearly explained, and individual chapters focus on neuroradiological evaluation and the radiological assessment of abdominal, thoracic, and subcutaneous abnormalities. Guidance is provided on how to exclude a range of alternative diagnoses, on the documentation of concerns over potential abuse, and on the needs of the clinician in relation to the radiologist. Recognizing Child Abuse in Radiology will be of value for radiologists in training and practice, for health care workers, and for other interested professionals.

This full-color new edition combines radiographic imaging of abuse with pathologic correlates side-by-side. Essential for radiologists, pediatricians and forensic pathologists.