[The importance of computer tomography in the diagnosis of epilepsy (author's transl)]

208 patients with epilepsy were investigated by computertomography (Emi Scanner CT 1010 and CT 5005). In 173 patients with generalised epilepsy 87 had a normal scan, 51 revealed a definitive diagnosis and 37 showed generalised atrophy. Of the 35 patients with partial seizures a definitive diagnosis was possible in 22; representing a higher proportion than the group with generalised seizures. A definitive diagnosis from the CT Scan was significantly more common in both patients with generalised and partial seizures when pathological neurological findings were also present. Symptomatic epilepsy was only significantly commoner in Dementia patients with generalised seizures. A significantly higher proportion of patients over 30 years old demonstrated a symptomatic epilepsy than those under 30 years of age.