Citation

van Rijn RR, Kieviet N, Hoekstra R, Nijs HG, Bilo RAC. Eur. J. Radiol. 2009; 71(1): 147-151.

Affiliation

Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Centre/Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.r.vanrijn@amc.uva.nl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ejrad.2008.02.014

PMID

18400442

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluates radiological imaging in suspected non accidental injury (NAI) in children below the age of 2 years in the Netherlands. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study consisted of two parts; first an on-line questionnaire on suspected NAI, amongst radiological practices within the Netherlands. The second part of the study was a retrospective analysis of skeletal surveys in children under the age of 2 years, which were reviewed in an expert centre of forensic medicine on request of the public prosecutor. RESULTS: Out of 116 hospitals 45 (39%) radiologists completed the on-line questionnaire; 8 (8%) of the proposed skeletal surveys complied with the ACR criteria. A total of 29 skeletal surveys in 26 children were reviewed. The median age at the time of the radiographic exam was 3 months for both boys and girls. Only 2 (7%) studies complied with the ACR criteria. DISCUSSION: The results of our study show that, in theory as well as in practice, Dutch radiological practices show a large variation in imaging protocols for suspected NAI.

Language: en