[Routine skull CT in psychiatric diagnosis].
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively assess the spectrum of brain CT findings in psychiatric patients and to determine the number of patients that had an underlying cause for the symptoms.


METHODS
Over a period of six months, 142 patients (78 males, 64 females; median age 61 [18-91] years) were referred for CT brain scans. Their scans were reviewed, along with the clinical information that was provided in the request form. All the hard copies were reviewed to assess areas of ischaemia, infarction, atrophy, tumours, and haematomas. The majority of requests were to exclude vascular event or space-occupying lesions. Clinical indications included mood disorders (depression, mania), schizophrenic disorders, dementia, personality and behavioural disorders.


RESULTS
31 (22%) were normal. 111 (78%) had varying degrees of ischaemia, infarction and cerebral/cerebellar atrophy. 7 (4.9%) had space-occupying lesions which included two gliomas and five meningiomas. There were two chronic subdural haematomas and one arteriovenous malformation.


CONCLUSIONS
1. In our series, pathologic findings in "routine" brain CT's were encountered in 78%. 2. The incidence of brain tumours was 4.9%, compared with 0.00005% of the general population. 3. CT scanning in psychiatric patients is cost-effective and especially indicated when there is an atypical presentation, or inadequate response to standard treatment.
Pickuth
D
D
Klinik und Poliklinik für Diagnostische Radiologie, Martin-Luther-Universität, Medizinische Fakultät, Halle/Saale.
Heywang-Köbrunner
S H
SH
Spielmann
R P
RP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
D003287:Contrast Media
"Routine"-Schädel-CT in der psychiatrischen Diagnostik.