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Prevalence of positive findings of brain computed tomography scans in pediatric population
Amirreza Jahanshahi1, Shahram Sadeghvand2, Mohammad Khalafi3
1Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Insights
Brain computed tomography (CT) scans in children revealed abnormal findings more often when clinical history was positive. This highlights the importance of clinical context in interpreting pediatric brain CT results.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Neuroimaging
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Computed tomography (CT) scans are increasingly utilized in healthcare settings.
- There is a growing concern regarding the frequency of potentially unnecessary CT scan requests as an initial diagnostic step.
- Evaluating the necessity and yield of brain CT scans in pediatric populations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the rate and prevalence of abnormal findings on brain CT scans in children.
- To analyze the diagnostic value of brain CT scans in relation to clinical presentation in pediatric patients.
- To investigate the association between patient history, clinical findings, and CT scan outcomes in children.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted.
- Included were all pediatric patients under 15 years old undergoing brain CT scans at the Children's Hospital of Tabriz, Iran, during Spring 2018.
- Data collected included age, gender, patient history, clinical findings, and CT scan results.
Main Results:
- Out of 108 pediatric patients, 68.5% had normal brain CT scans.
- Abnormal findings included hydrocephalus (13.9%) and benign infantile hydrocephalus (7.4%).
- A significant relationship was found between patient history (p=0.017) and clinical findings (p=0.042) and CT scan results.
Conclusions:
- Brain CT scans demonstrate a higher incidence of abnormal findings in pediatric patients with positive clinical findings.
- The diagnostic utility of CT scans for central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities is significantly influenced by the patient's medical history and physical examination.
- Clinical context is essential for accurate interpretation of pediatric brain CT scans.
Objectives:
Computed tomography (CT) scans are used more frequently in medical centers, increasing unnecessary requests for it as a first-line evaluation. This study aimed to investigate the rate and prevalence of abnormal findings in a brain CT scan in children at the Children's Hospital of Tabriz, Iran.
Materials &Methods:
This study was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study that included all children under 15 years old undergoing a brain CT scan at the Children's Hospital of Tabriz, Iran. All patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were referred to the Children's Hospital of Tabriz during the spring of 2018 entered the study. Age, gender, patient history, and clinical findings were examined. In the next step, the results of each patient's CT scan were evaluated.
Results:
In this study, 108 patients were studied with a median age of 18.0 months. CT scan results were normal in seventy-four cases (68.5%), hydrocephalus was seen in 15 (13.9%), and benign infantile hydrocephalus was seen in eight (7.4%). The study revealed a statistically significant relationship between patient history and CT scan results (p=0.017). A statistically significant relationship was observed between the clinical findings and CT scan results (p=0.042).
Conclusion:
Brain CT scans have more abnormal findings in patients with positive clinical findings. Although a CT scan is a highly sensitive and specificmodality in diagnosing central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities, its value depends on the underlying medical history and physical exam.
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