Tamara Gorjanc
Služba za radiologijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Ana Gazikalović
Služba za radiologijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Damjana Ključevšek
Služba za radiologijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain is relatively common in childhood. It is divided into acute and chronic pain, with the latter lasting more than three months. The differential diagnosis of both acute and chronic joint pain in children is broad. In addition to medical history, clinical presentation and laboratory findings, imaging is important in the diagnostic process of identifying the causes of pain. Which imaging method is used first depends on the location of the pain and the extent of tissue damage: for soft tissue changes and joint swelling, the first diagnostic method is ultrasound, while for suspected bone damage, x-rays are used. If necessary, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography may follow. In this article, we will discuss the anatomical and morphological characteristics of the paediatric skeleton that can mimic pathological changes, as well as imaging diagnostic procedures for acute and chronic joint pain.

Key words: joint pain, musculoskeletal system, imaging, children