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Use of CT in epilepsy: does it matter how long you wait?
M Daras1, A J Tuchman, J Zisfein
1Department of Neurology, New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital, N.Y.
European Neurology
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Brain CT scans can identify correctable lesions in new-onset seizures. For chronic epilepsy patients, CT has a lower yield for these lesions but may still be valuable.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Computer tomography (CT) of the brain is crucial for identifying treatable lesions in adults experiencing new-onset seizures.
- The diagnostic utility of CT in adult patients with chronic epilepsy who have not undergone prior CT remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of brain CT in detecting potentially correctable lesions in adult patients with new-onset seizures compared to those with chronic epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 177 adult patients with new-onset seizures who underwent CT within one year of seizure onset.
- A comparison group of 93 adult patients with chronic epilepsy who had CT more than one year after seizure onset.
Main Results:
- In the new-onset seizure group, 19% (33/177) had potentially correctable lesions, including 17 tumors.
- In the chronic epilepsy group, only 4% (4/93) had potentially correctable lesions, primarily arteriovenous malformations and one meningioma.
- The incidence of stable structural lesions appeared comparable between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Brain CT is beneficial for detecting potentially removable lesions in chronic epileptic patients, although the probability is relatively low.
- CT scans are valuable in the initial workup of new-onset seizures for identifying surgically treatable lesions.