In this Issue: July 2012

It is my pleasure to serve as the Guest Editor of the first Pediatric Radiology issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic College of Radiology. My hope is that the readers find this issue informative, interesting, and most importantly supportive in our radiologists’ efforts to maintain state-of-the-art expertise in life-long pediatric radiology learning and care. The review articles cover a broad range of topics, including diagnostic and therapeutic care issues in pediatric radiology. As a specialty college, the AOCR members largely practice in community hospital settings and are often responsible for the radiological care of children. To this end, the primary goal of this issue of the JAOCR is to provide current information that allows the AOCR members to properly care for children in their hospitals and outpatient centers, to the degree possible, and know the scope of tertiary and quaternary level care that is now available, when needed.

In this issue, the authors and I have selected topics with practical importance for the care of children, beginning with Dr. Mardis’ practical article on MR enterography as a diagnostic tool in the management of children, teenagers, and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease. MR enterography, when performed properly, provides elegant anatomic depiction of the disease processes and structures involved, clearly guiding medical and surgical care. Drs. Wildman and Henwood-Finley provide the readers with a well written, state- of-the-art reference for the use of DXA imaging in pediatric patients. Bone health in children continues to grow as a key area of concern for surveillance, prevention, early detection and early intervention of metabolic bone disturbance. My article on lymphatic malformation provides the readers with a pathologic basis for understanding the classification and diagnostic imaging findings of lymphatic malformations, as well as options and rationale for successful percutaneous therapy. Our individual case discussions should maintain the readers’ interest with diagnoses and therapies that are both intriguing and of practical value.

In summary, the authors and I hope that this first Pediatric Radiology issue of the JAOCR meets focused needs as you continue on your path of life-long learning in the care of your pediatric patients and their families.