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[Computerized tomography in epilepsy in children]
Insights
Computed tomography (CT) scans in children with epilepsy revealed abnormalities in 39 patients, with a small percentage showing surgically treatable lesions. CT findings generally did not alter management for pediatric epilepsy patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuroradiology
Background:
- Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in children.
- Computed tomography (CT) is a diagnostic tool used in evaluating pediatric epilepsy.
- The utility of CT scans in children with epilepsy requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence of CT abnormalities in children with epilepsy.
- To correlate CT findings with clinical features in pediatric epilepsy patients.
- To determine the impact of CT scan results on the management of childhood epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 160 children with epilepsy.
- Computed tomography (CT) performed on 123 patients (excluding febrile seizures, typical absence seizures, and benign Rolandic epilepsy).
- Analysis of CT scan results, including normal and abnormal findings, and their correlation with clinical presentation.
Main Results:
- CT scans were performed on 77% of the pediatric epilepsy patients.
- 84 out of 123 CT scans were normal, while 39 showed abnormalities.
- A small percentage (2%) of patients had surgically treatable lesions identified by CT.
Conclusions:
- CT scan abnormalities are detected in a significant proportion of children with epilepsy.
- While CT findings rarely alter management, they can identify surgically treatable lesions in a small subset of pediatric epilepsy cases.
- The study summarizes indications for CT in the evaluation of childhood epilepsy.
Abstract:
We present a retrospective study of 160 children attending our epilepsy out-patient department. Computed tomography (CT) was performed on 123 (77%) patients, namely all children with the exception of those with febrile seizures, typical absence seizures, and benign Rolandic epilepsy. Incidence of CT abnormalities and their correlation with clinical features were evaluated. The CT scan was normal in 84 and abnormal in 39 patients. Although in general, the detection of abnormality on CT will not alter the management of the child, in a small percentage (2%) of our cases a lesion treatable by surgery was discovered. The indications for CT are summarized.