Objective: The advent of computed tomography (CT) scan revolutionized the diagnostic evaluation of neurologic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate brain CT results of epileptic children.
Materials & Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, noncontrast brain CT scan of 150 consecutive 1-18 year old epileptic children whom were referred to pediatric neurology clinic of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, from May 2008 to October 2010 in Yazd-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 had abnormal mental / developmental status. Fifty three children (35.3%) and 97 (64.7%) had partial and generalized seizures, respectively. Partial seizures were more prevalent in 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 abnormal results, 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 one year of age [60.5% (23 of 38) vs.14.3% (16 of 112), p=0.003], partial epilepsy [51% (27 of 53) vs.12% (12.97)], and abnormal developmental status [81.5% (31 of 38) vs.7% (8 of 112]. Mean age of seizure onset in epileptic children with abnormal brain CT scan was 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 partial seizures, seizure onset in less than one year of age or neurodevelopmental delay.