Abstract
Background: Computed tomography (CT) scans forms the advanced imaging technique which has a high diagnosed yield. The anatomical details of the structure viewed are given in great detail. These properties made them the most used advanced imaging procedure
Methods: In total, thirty-five children of age less than twelve years and greater than two year of age requiring CT scan of the brain comprised the study group. The children with nil paternal consent and contraindications of CT scan such as had taken a CT within one year and precancerous conditions were excluded from the study. Chloral hydrate and diazepam was used for sedation during the procedure
Results: Among the 35 patients studied, five patients had abnormal CT scans. Seven (20%) patients didn’t respond to chloral hydrate and was given diazepam for sedation. Mass lesion was found in three patients (8.57%).
Discussion: The diagnostic yield of epilepsy syndromes is increased when there is suspected localizing signs in physical examination. Altered intra-cranial pressure was associated with the CT finding like radio-opacity in the sub-arachnoid space, basal cistern morphological changes, extra-axial mass lesion.
Conclusion: Emergency CT brain scans done are more when compared to elective CT scans. One fifth of the patients didn’t respond to oral chloral hydrate sedation.
Keywords: Computed tomogram, indications, children, neurological diseases.
References
- Oakley E, May R, Hoeppner T, Sinn K, Furyk J, Craig S, et al. Computed tomography for head injuries in children: Change in Australian usage rates over time. Emerg Med Australas. 2017 Apr;29(2):192–7.
- Amaranath JE, Ramanan M, Reagh J, Saekang E, Prasad N, Chaseling R, et al. Epidemiology of traumatic head injury from a major paediatric trauma centre in New South Wales, Australia. ANZ J Surg. 2014 Jun;84(6):424–8.
- Hoskote A, Richards P, Anslow P, McShane T. Subdural haematoma and non-accidental head injury in children. Childs Nerv Syst. 2002 Jul;18(6–7):311–7.
- Farizal F, Mohd Haspani MS. Mild paediatric head injury: the diagnostic value of physical examinations compared with computed tomographic scans. Malays J Med Sci. 2012 Jul;19(3):64–8.
- Brady Z, Ramanauskas F, Cain TM, Johnston PN. Assessment of paediatric CT dose indicators for the purpose of optimisation. Br J Radiol. 2012 Nov;85(1019):1488–98.
- Wong S-T, Yiu G, Poon Y-M, Yuen M-K, Fong D. Reducing radiation exposure from computed tomography of the brain in children--report of a practical approach. Childs Nerv Syst. 2012 May 12;28(5):681–9.
- Galas-Zgorzalewicz B, Godlewski A. Computerized tomography brain scanning in the diagnosis of partial epilepsy in children. Acta Med Pol. 1989;30(1–2):83–91.
- Nayan SAM, Abdullah MS, Naing NN, Haspani MSM, Md Ralib AR. Correlations between subdural empyema and paraclinical as well as clinical parameters amongst urban malay paediatric patients. Malays J Med Sci. 2008 Oct;15(4):19–27.
- Young AMH, Donnelly J, Liu X, Guilfoyle MR, Carew M, Cabeleira M, et al. Computed Tomography Indicators of Deranged Intracranial Physiology in Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injury. Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2018;126:29–34.
- Ledenius K, Stålhammar F, Wiklund LM, Fredriksson C, Forsberg A, Thilander-Klang A. Evaluation of image-enhanced paediatric computed tomography brain examinations. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2010 Apr 1;139(1–3):287–92.
- Pace E, Borg M. Optimisation of a paediatric ct brain protocol: a figure-of-merit approach. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2018 May 18;
- Crosbie RA, Nairn J, Kubba H. Management of paediatric periorbital cellulitis: Our experience of 243 children managed according to a standardised protocol 2012-2015. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 Aug;87:134–8.
Corresponding Author
Dr S. Chidambaranathan
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.