The Utility of Performing Brain CT Scan in Non Trauma Patients at the Pediatric Emergency Unit

The Utility of Performing Brain CT Scan in Non Trauma Patients at the Pediatric Emergency Unit. A Retrospective Observational Study.

Pediatric patients are admitted to the emergency room for diverse causes, beside trauma, patients can present with convulsions, suspicion of brain tumor or increased intracranial pressure. In most of the cases a brain CT is performed even before physical examination by a skilled neurologist. The amount of radiation that the children are exposed is equivalent to 100 plain chest X rays. The purpose of this tudy is to examinate in a retrospective study what were the indications for CT study and what was the incidence of relevant abnormal findings that required emergency intervention or referral.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients in the pediatric age that underwent brain CT scan in the pediatric emergency room

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with recent history of trauma