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Review of the new RCR guidelines (2017): The radiological investigation of suspected physical abuse in children

S. Halstead,Georgia Scott,S. Thust,G. Hann

Published 2018 in Archives of Disease in Childhood: Education & Practice Edition

ABSTRACT

Every paediatrician at some point in their career will be involved in cases of physical abuse. The evidence base has highlighted that there is a significant rate of occult injury on skeletal imaging in cases of suspected physical abuse. There is a need to create consistency of practice to ensure that abuse is being correctly diagnosed and that there is governance around exposure to radiation. This article aims to summarise the latest Royal College of Radiology guidance published in September 2017. In September 2017, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and the Society and College of Radiographers published a revised guidance entitled ‘The radiological investigation of suspected physical abuse in children’.1 This is/has been endorsed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The document aims to support clinicians and health workers involved with the requesting, performing and/or reporting of imaging in children suffering suspected physical abuse. The new guideline supersedes the 2008 RCR and RCPCH collaborative ‘Standards for radiological investigations of suspected non-accidental Injury’,2 which previously provided emergency, paediatric and imaging departments with a diagnostic framework. The older guidance included a system of red flags, escalation, recommended investigations and follow-up, which is partially retained in the updated document (box 1).Box 1 ### Resources

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