The Necessity of Follow-Up Brain Computed-Tomography Scans: Is It the Pathology Itself Or Our Fear that We Should Overcome?

Authors

  • Ahmet Öğrenci Neurospinal Academy, Neurosurgery, Kurtköy mah, Ankara Cad. 390/3, Pendik, Istanbul 34955
  • Orkun Koban Neurospinal Academy, Neurosurgery, Kurtköy mah, Ankara Cad. 390/3, Pendik, Istanbul 34955
  • Murat EkÅŸi Antalya Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi, Neurosurgery, Antalya
  • Onur Yaman Koc Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Neurosurgery, Istanbul
  • Sedat Dalbayrak Neurospinal Academy, Neurosurgery, Kurtköy mah, Ankara Cad. 390/3, Pendik, Istanbul 34955

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2017.157

Keywords:

epidural haematoma, follow-up tomography, CT scans, pediatric head trauma, fracture

Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to make a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with head traumas that were admitted to one hospital setting and to make an analysis of the patients for whom follow-up CT scans were obtained.

METHODS: Pediatric head trauma cases were retrospectively retrieved from the hospital’s electronic database. Patients’ charts, CT scans and surgical notes were evaluated by one of the authors. Repeat CT scans for operated patients were excluded from the total number of repeat CT scans.

RESULTS: One thousand one hundred and thirty-eight pediatric patients were admitted to the clinic due to head traumas. Brain CT scan was requested in 863 patients (76%) in the cohort. Follow-up brain CT scans were obtained in 102 patients. Additional abnormal finding requiring surgical intervention was observed in only one patient (isolated 4th ventricle hematoma) on the control CTs (1% of repeat CT scans), who developed obstructive hydrocephalus. None of the patients with no more than 1 cm epidural hematoma in its widest dimension and repeat CT scans obtained 1.5 hours after the trauma necessitated surgery.

CONCLUSION: Follow-up CT scans changed clinical approach in only one patient in the present series. When ordering CT scan in the follow-up of pediatric traumas, benefits and harms should be weighted based upon time interval from trauma onset to initial CT scan and underlying pathology.

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Published

2017-10-05

How to Cite

1.
Öğrenci A, Koban O, Ekşi M, Yaman O, Dalbayrak S. The Necessity of Follow-Up Brain Computed-Tomography Scans: Is It the Pathology Itself Or Our Fear that We Should Overcome?. Open Access Maced J Med Sci [Internet]. 2017 Oct. 5 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];5(6):740-3. Available from: https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/oamjms.2017.157

Issue

Section

B - Clinical Sciences

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