The role of retinal imaging in the management of abusive head trauma cases
- 24.01.2022
- Original Article
Erschienen in:
- Verfasst von
- Antonio Oliva
- Simone Grassi
- Francesca Cazzato
- Sayena Jabbehdari
- Lorenzo Mensi
- Giulia Amorelli
- Lorenzo Orazi
- Vincenzo Arena
- Domenico Lepore
- Erschienen in
- International Journal of Legal Medicine | Ausgabe 4/2022
Abstract
Background
As retinal hemorrhage (RH) is the most frequent and reliable finding of abusive head trauma (AHT), an ophthalmology consultation should be systematically required in suspected cases. Full retinal examination through pharmacologically dilated pupil can detect the type and pattern of RHs, helping to distinguish abusive from non-abusive head trauma.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of a case series of 6 infants (aged 0.6-10 months) with AHT who were admitted to the Emergency Department of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS in Rome with severe intracranial hemorrhages. Children underwent full multidisciplinary assessment including dilated fundus examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and digital wide-field fundus photography (DWFFP – in our case RetCam). In our paper we report the clinical presentation, the ocular findings and outcome at discharge.
Results
The mean age at the hospital admission was 6.28 months. In all infants, intracranial hemorrhages were found. Preretinal and intraretinal hemorrhages were detected, collecting good-quality retinal images.
Conclusions
Imaging of retinal hemorrhages represents a fundamental moment of AHT diagnosis and documentation. Although RetCam is the gold standard for the acquisition of retinal images in suspected cases, OCT is extremely valuable in forensic evaluation since it can detect even small macular hemorrhages. Therefore, the combination of RetCam and OCT imaging can give relevant hints for the diagnosis of AHT, allowing to evaluate the extent, spread and morphology of RHs.
Anzeige
- Titel
- The role of retinal imaging in the management of abusive head trauma cases
- Verfasst von
-
Antonio Oliva
Simone Grassi
Francesca Cazzato
Sayena Jabbehdari
Lorenzo Mensi
Giulia Amorelli
Lorenzo Orazi
Vincenzo Arena
Domenico Lepore
- Publikationsdatum
- 24.01.2022
- Verlag
- Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Erschienen in
-
International Journal of Legal Medicine / Ausgabe 4/2022
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Elektronische ISSN: 1437-1596 - DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-021-02750-5
Dieser Inhalt ist nur sichtbar, wenn du eingeloggt bist und die entsprechende Berechtigung hast.
