Abnormal findings in brain CT scans among children

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of abnormal findings in brain CT scans among children as well as the reasons for brain CT scan requests. Patients and Methods: In the present case series, demographic information and CT scan reports of 167 patients referred to Taba Radiology Center in Shiraz from April 2010 to August 2011 were collected. The major complaints of the patients were gathered through phone contacts. Descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-Square tests were used. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 167 patients, 84 (50.3%) were males and the average age of the patients was 12.5 ± 4.7 years. Twenty patients (11.98%) had abnormal CT scans. The most prevalent abnormal findings were arachnoid cyst in 4 (20%), cerebral hemorrhage in 3 (15%), atrophic change in 3 (15%), hydrocephaly in 3 (15%), and congenital underdevelopment in 2 (10%) cases. The most common major complaints included headache in 73 (60.8%), head injury in 14 (11.5%), and seizure in 12 (10%) patients. Only 2.7% of the patients with headaches showed abnormal findings in CT scans, compared with 17% of patients with other complaints; this difference was significant (P = 0.013). Conclusions: Headache, seizure, and trauma are the main reasons for CT scan requests. About 12% of the brain CT scans were abnormal. Being knowledgeable about the indications of imaging, unnecessary imaging can be prevented, and consequently, its risks can be minimized.