Scurvy in an autistic child: MRI findings

• Published in: Pediatric radiology Vol. 43; no. 10; pp. 1396 - 1399
• Main Authors: Gongidi, Preetam, Johnson, Craig, Dinan, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.10.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Autistic Disorder - complications; Autistic Disorder - diagnosis; Case Report; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neuroradiology; Nuclear Medicine; Oncology; Pediatrics; Radiology; Scurvy - complications; Scurvy - diagnosis; Ultrasound; Autism; Vitamin C deficiency; Scurvy; Food-avoidant behavior
• DOI: 10.1007/s00247-013-2688-z
• ISSN: 0301-0449

Scurvy results from a deficiency of vitamin C and is rarely seen in the United States. We describe the MRI findings of a case of scurvy in an autistic child with food-avoidant behavior. Advanced imaging is rarely performed in clinically well-understood disease entities such as scurvy. Typical radiographic findings are well described leading to definitive diagnosis, although the findings can be missed or misinterpreted given the rarity of scurvy in daily practice. To our knowledge, MRI features of scurvy in children in the US have been described in only one case report. This case of scurvy in an autistic child with food-avoidant behavior emphasizes that classic nutritional deficiencies, despite their rarity, must be included in the differential diagnosis of at-risk populations.