Year: 2024 | Month: March | Volume: 14 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 242-247
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20240336
Abnormal Brain Computed Tomography Findings in Children
Annongu I T1, Magaji OG.2
1Department of Radiology, College of Health Sciences/Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi.
2Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Nassarawa State.
Corresponding Author: Annongu, Isaac Terkimbi
ABSTRACT
There is improvement in patient care as a result of advanced Radiological medical imaging. Some of these however are associated with ionization radiation; a form of energy with potentials to damage the DNA resulting to chances of developing radiation related complications including cancers. Computed Tomography (CT) scan is one of such Radiation emitting equipment and its use has increased tremendously over the last decade even in children. Children are more radiosensitive than adults are and have higher chances of developing radiation related complications with the same dose. On this premise, the principle of As Low As Reasonable Achievable (ALARA) should be employed when requesting for radiological investigations.
The study aimed to evaluate abnormal CT findings in those requests, assess if the request are justifiable, and therefore propose that many CT requests are unnecessary.
One hundred and twenty CT images and dermographic data of paediatric cases 1-18years were reviewed from the archived of the Radiology Department of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital. The major complain were head injury (33.8%), seizures (23.8%) and CNS infection (11.5%). Fourty-four (33.8%) images reviewed were normal while 86 (66.2%) were abnormal. Of the 31patients that presented with seizures, 25 had no abnormal findings in their CT scans. Seventeen patients out of the 44 with head injury had intracranial haemorrages, 15 of them were associated with skull fractures, six normal.
Paediatric CT request in our environment is justifiably. In seizures however, except there are other clinical symptoms, it may not be necessary.
Key words: Brain CT, Abnormal findings, Children