[The battered child (author's transl)].

The diagnosis of the battered child syndrome is the first and most important step for adequate therapy and prevention. The recognition of this entity by the radiologist is possible because of the high frequency of skeletal lesions. Osteoepiphyseolysis with fragmentation of the edges and periosteal calicifications are characteristic for the roentgenographic pattern of the battered child syndrome. In addition to the Roentgen diagnosis total body bone scans should be performed because the diagnostic accuracy will improve, the lesions will be detected earlier, and the radiation dose can be decreases in numerous children.