Brain Computerized Tomography (CT) in Clinical Pediatrics

Cho, Byoung Soo; Ahn, Chang Il

Abstract

The results of Brain CT in 93 children with seizure and or other neurologic problems are evaluated in relation to the age of onset, patients' history, final diagnosis & EEG. The overall incidence of abnormal scans were 78.5% in our series. Analysis of CT results showed that the incidence of abnormal scan was closely related to the following criteria. 1. Patients with onset of neurologic problems during the age of 1 year, have a higher incidence of abnormal CT scans(87.5%), particularly if the onset was below 1 month of age. (93.8%), Also the results of CT were markedly different between the age under the 6 years and the age above the 6 years. In the former group of paients, brain atrophy and hydrocephalus were the most common cause of abnormal findings and in the latter group, brain tumor and vascular lesions. 2. Patients with a first attack of seizure have a higher incidence of abnormal scans than that of recurrent attacks(87%, 75%). 3. CT was particularly valuable for the diagnosis of tumor, complicated with meningitis, congenital hydrocephalus, vascular lesions, tuberous sclerosis, infarction, abscess, congenital toxoplasmosis & skull fracture. 4. Patients with focal slowing or focal spike with focal slowing on EEG findings manifested significant positive results on CT scan.(93.4%, 100%). 5. The number of patients who revealed abnormalities on contrast enhancement were 13 patients Among those 13 patients, 4 patients were with tuberculous meningitis and these all 4 patients showed characteristic findings of hydrocephalus with prominent basal and Sylvian fissure enhancement after injection of intravenous contrast media. 6. No. particular correlationship was noticed between simple skull roentgenorraphy and brain CT scan in the diagnosis of intracranial pathology except in the detection of skull fracture & large calcification.