Abstract
Radiological findings of the association of non-accidental fractures of long bones in children with intracranial bleeding are accepted as a unit of the Battered child syndrome of since the description by Caffey (1946). Whereas the recognition of characteristic X-rays of the skeleton is relatively easy, the demonstration of their violent origin and differentiation from other diseases is much more difficult.
The currently used diagnostic imaging methods are able to change the situation. A particular attention is paid to the misuse of the health care for damaging a child during so called Munchhausen-by-Proxy syndrome - misuse of excess examinations.
The usual danger associated with radiological examination - possibility of damage with ionizing radiation, contrast media and invasive nature of the intervention itself - are associated with psychological consequences. A close cooperation with a paediatric radiologist is advantageous, the independent decision (self-referring) of the clinician being dangerous.