Radiology

Publisher Summary Imaging plays an important role in the identification and management of bone and soft tissue diseases in children. Of all the imaging techniques, radiography has been established for the longest period. The role of imaging includes confirming that a skeletal lesion is present, defining whether a lesion is single or multiple, defining the features and extent of a lesion so that a diagnosis may be made, differentiating between benign and malignant lesions where possible, and monitoring the effect of treatment and disease. One of the most popular imaging techniques is radiography. In radiography, x-rays are passed through the body; some are absorbed, the amount depending on the atomic number and thickness of the tissue through which the x-rays pass. A differential pattern of x-rays reaches the fluorescent screens of the cassette, in which is held the radiographic film. The fluorescence emitted by the screens is dependent on the incident x-rays and this fluorescence alters the silver crystals in the radiographic film. Radiographs are two-dimensional images of three-dimensional anatomical structures; therefore, two radiographic views at right angles (e.g., anteroposterior [AP] and lateral) are often required to define clearly the anatomical site and extent of a bone lesion.