• Robert G Wells, Christine Vetter, and Prakash Laud.
• Radiology Department, MS 721, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, 9000 W Wisconsin Ave, PO Box 1997, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA. rwells@chw.org
• Arch Pediat Adol Med. 2002 Mar 1; 156 (3): 252-7.

ObjectiveTo determine whether certain computed tomographic imaging patterns in infants and young children with intracranial hemorrhage help predict intentional compared with unintentional injuries.DesignRetrospective consecutive case series over a 10-year period.PatientsTwo hundred ninety-three children younger than 3 years with intracranial hemorrhage.Main Outcome MeasuresThe sensitivity and specificity of computed tomographic imaging patterns for intentional head injury.SettingRegional pediatric medical center.ResultsFour variables used in the multiple logistic regression analysis for predicting intentional head injury were statistically significant (P<.05): subdural hematoma located over the cerebral convexities, hematoma within the interhemispheric subdural space, hygroma (nonhemic subdural fluid) with intracranial hemorrhage, and absence of a skull fracture with intracranial hemorrhage. The prediction model for the diagnosis of intentional head trauma using combinations of these 4 variables and a.45 probability cutoff point indicated a sensitivity of 84% (95% confidence interval, 78%-90%) and a specificity of 83% (95% confidence interval, 74%-89%).ConclusionComputed tomographic imaging patterns of intracranial hemorrhage in children younger than 3 years help predict whether the injury was intentional.

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