Purpose or Case Report: Sickle cell disease is a common inherited disorder due to a structural abnormality in hemoglobin affecting the shape of the red blood cells. There are a variety of manifestations of this disease affecting a multitude of different organ systems. Some of the complications with the highest morbidity are those involving the central nervous system, and thus, the radiologist plays a pivotal role in the clinical management of these patients. It is important for the radiologist to understand the disease process, the radiologic manifestations, and the screening modalities available.
Methods & Materials: A retrospective review of patients with sickle cell disease that presented to an urban children’s hospital over the past 15 years was performed. Medical records and imaging findings were correlated with clinical history. A variety of cases with interesting and classic radiographic findings was selected for an imaging review.
Results: A review of the imaging findings in sickle cell disease will be provided, with particular attention to those involving the brain and spine. CT, MRI, and ultrasound examinations will be shown which demonstrate important findings associated with sickle cell disease.
Conclusions: Sickle cell disease is a common disorder that presents in childhood in a multitude of ways. Because of the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease, the radiologist should be familiar with the disease process along with the various imaging manifestations of it.