As a pediatric radiologist specializing in musculoskeletal imaging, I perform and interpret radiographic studies in all key modalities. This work is primarily centered on the diagnosis and treatment complex sport injuries, skeletal tumors and dysplasias, maltreatment injuries, bone loss and associated fractures arising from rickets and other nutritional disorders. I also contribute to the development of MR imaging protocols for musculoskeletal imaging throughout the Children’s enterprise. This work is ongoing as new imaging techniques evolve that feature increasingly rapid image processing, advanced methods of 2D and 3D image reconstruction, new contrast agents, and radiation dosimetry customized to the unique profiles of each patient. As a clinician known for expertise in the imaging characteristics of child abuse, I actively review cases with the child abuse team, working collaboratively in making diagnoses and in coordinating patient care with the entire treatment team. At a national level, I have served as Chair of the Child Abuse Committee of the Society for Pediatric Radiology, which shapes imaging policies and standards for the evaluation of these children in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Radiology and the Helfer Society.
Approach to Care
From the outset of my career, I decided to pursue research projects that have a direct impact on the care I give to patients. My research has led to a whole body MRI protocol for the evaluation of soft tissue injuries in abused infants; optimized digital imaging protocols for skeletal surveys of infants in suspected maltreatment cases; and low radiation dose imaging protocols for quantitative CT bone densitometry (MDCT) for more accurate evaluation of bone density in children.
Publications
Evaluating Young Children With Fractures for Child Abuse: Clinical Report. View Abstract
Temporal Pattern of Radiographic Findings of Costochondral Junction Rib Fractures on Serial Skeletal Surveys in Suspected Infant Abuse. View Abstract
Improving Low-Dose Pediatric Abdominal CT by Using Convolutional Neural Networks. View Abstract
Curved planar reformatting and convolutional neural network-based segmentation of the small bowel for visualization and quantitative assessment of pediatric Crohn's disease from MRI. View Abstract
The distal tibial classic metaphyseal lesion: medial versus lateral cortical injury. View Abstract
Motion-robust parameter estimation in abdominal diffusion-weighted MRI by simultaneous image registration and model estimation. View Abstract
Spatially-constrained probability distribution model of incoherent motion (SPIM) for abdominal diffusion-weighted MRI. View Abstract
Misdiagnosis of plexiform neurofibroma as venous malformation in pediatric patients. View Abstract
Fractures Related to Metabolic Bone Disease in Children with Congenital Heart Disease. View Abstract
Spatially constrained incoherent motion method improves diffusion-weighted MRI signal decay analysis in the liver and spleen. View Abstract
Absence of rickets in infants with fatal abusive head trauma and classic metaphyseal lesions. View Abstract
Motion Compensated Abdominal Diffusion Weighted MRI by Simultaneous Image Registration and Model Estimation (SIR-ME). View Abstract
The yield of high-detail radiographic skeletal surveys in suspected infant abuse. View Abstract
An electronic tool for systematic reporting of fractures on skeletal surveys in suspected child abuse: prototype development and physician feedback. View Abstract
The AAP and the SPR Child Abuse Committee issue a clinical report on 'Evaluating children with fractures for child physical abuse'. View Abstract
Evaluating children with fractures for child physical abuse. View Abstract
Prevalence and relevance of pediatric spinal fractures in suspected child abuse. View Abstract
Reliable estimation of incoherent motion parametric maps from diffusion-weighted MRI using fusion bootstrap moves. View Abstract
Three-dimensional skull models as a problem-solving tool in suspected child abuse. View Abstract
Characterization of fast and slow diffusion from diffusion-weighted MRI of pediatric Crohn's disease. View Abstract
