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Computed tomographic (CT) scans in cerebral palsy (CP)
T M Kolawole1, P J Patel, A H Mahdi
1Department of Radiology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Computed tomography (CT) scans reveal significant findings in 72.5% of children with cerebral palsy (CP). This effective diagnostic tool aids in managing CP by identifying various brain abnormalities and treatable lesions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Radiology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders due to damage in the developing brain.
- Accurate diagnosis and understanding of underlying pathologies are crucial for effective management of CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze computed tomography (CT) findings in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
- To correlate CT results with clinical types and etiological factors of CP.
- To assess the efficacy of CT scans in identifying treatable lesions in CP patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of CT scans from 120 children with cerebral palsy.
- Correlation of imaging findings with clinical presentation, etiology, and presence of seizures.
- Identification and categorization of specific brain abnormalities detected on CT.
Main Results:
- CT scans showed positive findings in 72.5% of the studied children.
- The spastic type of CP exhibited the highest rate of positive CT findings (83.3%).
- Higher detection rates were observed in children with seizures (91.3%), postnatal etiology (90%), birth trauma, and neonatal asphyxia (94%).
- Common findings included atrophy (30.8%), hydrocephalus (10%), infarct (11.6%), and porencephaly (8.3%).
- Treatable lesions such as tumors, hydrocephalus, subdural hematomas, porencephaly, and hygromas were identified in 22.5% of cases.
Conclusions:
- CT scanning is a highly effective tool for diagnosing cerebral palsy and identifying associated brain pathologies.
- CT findings correlate significantly with clinical subtypes and etiological factors in cerebral palsy.
- The identification of treatable lesions through CT imaging underscores its importance in guiding the management of cerebral palsied children.
Abstract:
The CT findings in 120 cerebral palsied children are analysed. The 72.5% positive findings are correlated with the clinical types, as well as the aetiological basis for the cerebral palsy. The spastic type, 83.3% of the total number of children, had the highest positive findings. The yield was increased in children with seizures (91.3%) and those in the postnatal group (90%), as well as those with birth trauma and neonatal asphyxia (94%). The findings were those of atrophy in 30.8%, hydrocephalus, in 10%, infarct in 11.6%, porencephaly in 8.3% and others. The atropic changes and their patterns are explained. Treatable lesions, such as tumour, hydrocephalus, subdural haematoma, porencephaly and hygroma were identified in 22.5% of cases. It is concluded that CT scan is definitely efficacious in the management of cerebral palsied children.