A Clinical and CT scan Study of Partial and Generalized Seizures

1. To assess clinical profile of patients presenting with seizures, 2. To determine the etiological factors of seizures, 3. To evaluate role of computed tomography scan in diagnosis of seizures.

The present study was conducted in 100 cases of age more than 12 years and seizure onset after age of 12 years. The study included patients admitted for other medical conditions and developing seizure during hospital stay. Clinical data and CT scan brain report was collected and analyzed to derive the etiological diagnosis for the seizures.

Mean age of the patients was 44 years, ranging from 13-90 years; with a male: female ratio of 1.2:1. Headache, vomiting, fever were important associated non-convulsive symptoms of which headache was most common in 41% cases. Altered sensorium (30 cases) and focal neurological deficits (21 cases) were the most important neurological signs. Generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) was the most common type of seizure (63%) than partial seizures (37%). The aetiologies found for GTCS were alcohol abuse, CVA, infections and poisonings. In most cases of partial seizures, the aetiology was found to be brain tumour, infections and post traumatic seizures. CT brain was abnormal in 54% cases and normal in 43% cases; abnormal CT brain reports were more common in partial seizures (73%) as compared to GTCS (43%).

Imaging is the most important factors determining the aetiology of seizures so as to guide the further treatment of the patient.