Results of Non-contrast Brain Computed Tomography Scans of 1-18 Year Old Epileptic Children

Objective The advent of computed tomography (CT) scan revolutionized the diagnosticevaluation of neurologic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate brain CTresults of epileptic children. Materials & Methods In a descriptive cross-sectional study, noncontrast brain CT scan of 150 consecutive1-18 year old epileptic children whom were referred to pediatric neurology clinic ofShahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, from May 2008 to October 2010 inYazd-Iran, evaluated. Results Sixty two girls and 88 boys with mean age of 6.6 ± 4.3 years were evaluated.In 38 (25.3 %) children, seizure onset age was under one year and 38 others hadabnormal mental / developmental status. Fifty three children (35.3 %) and 97 (64.7%)had partial and generalized seizures, respectively. Partial seizures were more prevalentin children with seizure onset in < 1 year [41.5% (22/53) vs. 16.5% (16/97)] Result of CT was normal in 74 % (n=111). Among the patients with abnormalresults, 18(46%) had brain atrophy, 10 (25.6%) structural CNS dysgenesia, six (15.4%)intracranial calcification, three (7.8%) hydrocephaly and two had (5.2%) brain tumor.Abnormal brain CT was more prevalent in patients with seizure onset in less than oneyear of age [60.5% (23 of 38) vs. 14.3% (16 of 112), p = 0.003], partial epilepsy [51% (27of 53) vs. 12% (12/97)], and abnormal developmental status [ 81.5% (31 of 38) vs.7% (8of 112]. Mean age of seizure onset in epileptic children with abnormal brain CT scanwas less (M ± SD:1/17 ± 0.6 years versus 4.02±1.9 years). Conclusion Brain CT scan might be considered in evaluation of epileptic children with partialseizures, seizure onset in less than one year of age or neurodevelopmental delay.