You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Original articles
Neuroimaging: what neuroradiological features distinguish abusive from non-abusive head trauma? A systematic review
  1. A M Kemp1,
  2. T Jaspan2,
  3. J Griffiths3,
  4. N Stoodley4,
  5. M K Mann5,
  6. V Tempest6,
  7. S A Maguire2
  1. 1School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
  2. 2Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
  3. 3Community Child Health, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Trust, Swansea, UK
  4. 4North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
  5. 5Child Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
  6. 6Support Unit for Research Evidence, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
  1. Correspondence to Professor Alison Kemp, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UHW, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; kempam{at}cardiff.ac.uk

Abstract

Objectives To identify the evidence base behind the neuroradiological features that differentiate abusive head trauma (AHT) from non-abusive head trauma (nAHT).

Design Systematic review.

Setting Literature search of 14 databases, websites, textbooks, conference abstracts and references (1970–February 2010). Studies had two independent reviews (three if disputed) and critical appraisal.

Patients Primary comparative studies of children <11 years old hospitalised with AHT and nAHT diagnosed on CT or MRI.

Main outcome measures Neuroradiological features that differentiated AHT from nAHT.

Results 21 studies of children predominantly <3 years old were analysed. Subdural haemorrhages (SDH) were significantly associated with AHT (OR 8.2, 95% CI 6.1 to 11). Subarachnoid haemorrhages were seen equally in AHT and nAHT and extradural haemorrhages (EDH) were significantly associated with nAHT (OR for AHT 0.1, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.18). Multiple (OR 6, 95% CI 2.5 to 14.4), interhemispheric (OR 7.9, 95% CI 4.7 to 13), convexity (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.3 to 19.4) and posterior fossa haemorrhages (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1 to 6) were associated with AHT. Hypoxic-ischaemic injury (HII) (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 10) and cerebral oedema (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 4.5) were significantly associated with AHT, while focal parenchymal injury was not a discriminatory feature. SDH of low attenuation were more common in AHT than in nAHT.

Conclusion Multiple SDH over the convexity, interhemispheric haemorrhages, posterior fossa SDH, HII and cerebral oedema are significantly associated with AHT and should be considered together with clinical features when identifying the condition.

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2011-300630

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text

    Footnotes

    • Funding This study was funded by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the Wales Office of Research and Development.

    • Competing interests None.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.