Comparison of early and late MRI in neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy using three assessment methods

International audienc

Ultrasound Presentation of a Disseminated Fetal and Neonatal Rhabdoid Tumor

This is a case report of a disseminated fetal rhabdoid tumor discovered at 32 weeks of gestation in a 29-year-old woman on immunosuppressive therapy. The mother consulted for a decrease in fetal movement. Fetal ultrasound showed signs of a disseminated tumor affecting the left armpit, liver, spleen, and limbs. A caesarian section was performed because of signs of fetal distress. Immunohistochemical analysis of a fetal biopsy showed deletion of the SMARCB1 gene. Pathological analysis of the placenta showed a rhabdoid tumor invading both fetal and maternal compartments. The mother underwent a whole-body MRI, and no metastasis was found. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a disseminated rhabdoid tumor invading both fetal and maternal compartments

Whole-body post-mortem computed tomography compared with autopsy in the investigation of unexpected death in infants and children

International audienceTo investigate the contribution of whole-body post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) in sudden unexpected death in infants and children.METHODS:Forty-seven cases of sudden unexpected death in children investigated with radiographic skeletal survey, whole-body PMCT and autopsy were enrolled. For imaging interpretation, non-specific post-mortem modifications and abnormal findings related to the presumed cause of death were considered separately. All findings were correlated with autopsy findings.RESULTS:There were 31 boys and 16 girls. Of these, 44 children (93.6 %) were younger than 2 years. The cause of death was found at autopsy in 18 cases (38.3 %), with 4 confirmed as child abuse, 12 as infectious diseases, 1 as metabolic disease and 1 as bowel volvulus. PMCT results were in accordance with autopsy in all but three of these 18 cases. Death remains unexplained in 29 cases (61.7 %) and was correlated with no abnormal findings on PMCT in 27 cases. Major discrepancies between PMCT and autopsy findings concerned pulmonary analysis.CONCLUSIONS:Whole-body PMCT may detect relevant findings that can help to explain sudden unexpected death and is essential for detecting non-accidental injuries. We found broad concordance between autopsy and PMCT, except in a few cases of pneumonia. It is a non-invasive technique acceptable to relatives.KEY POINTS:• Whole-body post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) is an effective non-invasive method. • Whole-body PMCT is essential for detecting child abuse in unexpected death. • There is concordance on cause of death between PMCT and autopsy. • Whole-body PMCT could improve autopsy through dissection and sampling guidance. • PMCT shows findings that may be relevant when parents reject autopsy

Whole-body MR imaging in suspected physical child abuse: comparison with skeletal survey and bone scintigraphy findings from the PEDIMA prospective multicentre study

International audienceObjectives: To assess the contribution of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WBMRI) and bone scintigraphy (BS) in addition to skeletal survey (SS) in detecting traumatic bone lesions and soft-tissue injuries in suspected child abuse.Methods: In this prospective, multicentre, diagnostic accuracy study, children less than 3 years of age with suspected physical abuse were recruited. Each child underwent SS, BS and WBMRI. A blinded first review was performed in consensus by five paediatric radiologists and three nuclear medicine physicians. A second review investigated discrepancies reported between the modalities using a consensus result of all modalities as the reference standard. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity and corresponding 95% confidence interval for each imaging modality (SS, WBMRI and BS) and for the combinations [SS + WBMRI] and [SS + BS].Results: One hundred seventy children were included of which sixty-four had at least one lesion. In total, 146 lesions were included. The sensitivity and specificity of each examination were, respectively, as follows: 88.4% [95% CI, 82.0-93.1] and 99.7% [95% CI, 99.5-99.8] for the SS, 69.9% [95% CI, 61.7-77.2] and 99.5% [95% CI, 99.2-99.7] for WBMRI and 54.8% [95% CI, 46.4-63.0] and 99.7% [95% CI, 99.5-99.9] for BS. Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 95.9% [95% CI, 91.3-98.5] and 99.2% [95% CI, 98.9-99.4] for the combination SS + WBMRI and 95.2% [95% CI, 90.4-98.1] and 99.4% [95% CI, 99.2-99.6] for the combination SS + BS, with no statistically significant difference between them.Conclusion: SS was the most sensitive independent imaging modality; however, the additional combination of either WBMRI or BS examinations offered an increased accuracy.Key points: • SS in suspected infant abuse was the most sensitive independent imaging modality in this study, especially for detecting metaphyseal and rib lesions, and remains essential for evaluation. • The combination of either SS + BS or SS + WBMRI provides greater accuracy in diagnosing occult and equivocal bone injuries in the difficult setting of child abuse. • WBMRI is a free-radiation technique that allows additional diagnosis of soft-tissue and visceral injuries