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Mini-symposium: Paediatric radiology

Consultant Paediatric Radiologist Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH UK

Paediatric radiology is unique as it is the only imaging specialty that is defined by the patient's age rather than their clinical condition. Consequently, many of the clinical conditions seen in paediatric radiology also form part of those subspecialties that are system- or organ-based. The range of paediatric pathologies is as wide as it is in adult practice, and paediatric radiology effectively covers the whole of radiology in anybody under the age of 16 years.

As well as pathological changes that occur in childhood, the paediatric radiologist also needs a detailed knowledge of the normal imaging variations that occur owing to growth and development. It must be realised that there is a significant alteration both in anatomy and physiology between a newborn baby and a fully grown teenager.

In view of the vast range of subjects that can be classified as being part of paediatric radiology, this issue of Imaging has concentrated on certain clinical scenarios. Those scenarios chosen, such as the vomiting child or the child with a limp, are common and as such will be encountered by any radiologist who deals with children, whether they work in a large paediatric tertiary referral centre or alternatively are based in a general hospital with just a small paediatric population.

The emphasis of all the articles is to give a broad overview of the particular conditions, an extensive list of differential diagnoses together with a methodology and comprehensive illustrations to enable this differential to be reduced.

It is impossible within the limits of this edition of Imaging to cover all aspects of paediatric radiology. The reader will hopefully find that other paediatric topics will be covered in other issues of Imaging when relevant to those subspecialties.

The reader should be aware of the valuable role that radiology performs in the investigation of paediatric disease. Very often a concise and reliable history is unobtainable from the child or their carers. Clinical examination can be difficult and inconclusive. In many respects imaging acts as a primary screening modality in excluding any significant pathology.

Whilst paediatric radiology can be challenging and in some eyes daunting, it is also very rewarding with significant clinical impact. Hopefully, with the help of this edition, the reader will have greater confidence in dealing with a wide variety of paediatric conditions.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Johnson, K Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Johnson, K