CRANIAL COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN THE UNDER 2S

One hundred consecutive cranial computed tomographic scans were reviewed in children aged 0-2 years, presenting to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. The mean age at scanning was 8.3 months and 73% of the scans were abnormal. The majority of scans were performed electively (78%). The commonest indication for a scan was seizures (31) and the diagnostic yield was highest where they were associated with other neuro-developmental symptoms. The usefulness of the CT scan was not limited to the abnormal studies but contributed to management in children with normal scans by excluding important intracranial pathology. Development CNS malformation (16 scans) and cerebral atrophy (15 scans) were the most frequent CT abnormalities encountered.