Acute head trauma - a multidetector computed tomography scanning study

ObjectiveThe present work was designed to evaluate the role of multidetector computed tomography (CT) scanning in the diagnosis of sequelae of acute head trauma.BackgroundHead trauma is a major cause of death and disability. CT of the head is commonly considered to be the imaging modality of choice for the diagnosis of sequelae of acute head trauma. CT imaging has vastly improved from single-section scanning to the present multidetector row CT (MDCT). MDCT has improved the diagnostic value through the availability of postprocessing techniques such as multiplanar reformation and three-dimensional reconstruction imaging.MethodsWe studied 63 patients, aged between 12 days and 70 years (mean age, 20 years), presenting to the Emergency Department of Kafr El-Dawar General Hospital with a history of acute head trauma from May 2013 to January 2014. All patients were examined using an MDCT scanner and showed positive findings on head MDCT.ResultsMDCT (Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) and three-dimensional reconstruction images) added more information to the routine axial images alone in 32 (27%) of the 118 CT findings. It better demonstrated the type and extension of skull fractures in 18 patients (36% of patients with skull fractures and 28.6% of all patients), added more diagnostic value in 10 patients with extra-axial hemorrhages (22.7% of patients with extra-axial hemorrhages and 15.9% of all patients), and better demonstrated the contusions in four patients (21% of patients with hemorrhagic contusions and 6.3% of all patients).ConclusionMDCT was successful in the adequate characterization of the extent and type of hemorrhages and skull fractures in cases of acute head trauma.