Imaging characteristics of pediatric growing skull fracture
10.3969/j.issn.1002-1671.2025.07.025
- VernacularTitle:儿童生长性颅骨骨折的影像特征分析
- Author:
Jiajie TIAN
1
;
Xiaoxi CHEN
1
Author Information
1. 遵义医科大学附属医院放射科,贵州 遵义 563000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
children;
growing skull fracture;
computed tomography;
magnetic resonance imaging
- From:
Journal of Practical Radiology
2025;41(7):1194-1197
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of pediatric growing skull fracture(GSF).Methods A retro-spective analysis was conducted on the clinical and imaging data from 14 cases pediatric GSF.Results At the time of initial trauma,cranial CT examinations were performed in 10 cases,with 7 presenting as linear fractures and 3 as comminuted fractures.The median separation distance between fracture edges was 5 mm.At the time of GSF diagnosis,all 14 patients underwent cranial CT examina-tions,and 9 underwent cranial MRI examinations.The morphological changes in GSF skulls displayed two distinct patterns:The first pattern,observed in 12 cases,involved widening of the fracture gap with simultaneous separation of the inner and outer skull tables and diploic layer,leading to skull defects.The median separation distance of fracture edges in this group was 10 mm.The second pat-tern,seen in 2 cases,showed significant expansion and destruction of the diploic layer at the fracture site.Additional imaging findings associated with GSF included brain herniation,encephalomalacia,subdural effusion,subgaleal effusion,cerebrospinal fluid accumula-tion in the diploic layer,brain perforation malformations,and lateral ventricular enlargement.Conclusion The typical imaging mani-festation of GSF is widening of the fracture gap leading to skull defects,though a small proportion may present with diploic layer expan-sion.Serial cranial CT and MRI are essential imaging modalities for diagnosing GSF.
