title: Results of noncontrast brain computed tomography scans of 1-18 year old epileptic children.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fa Llah
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nafisi Moghadam
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fa Llah Tafti
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Ali Ben Abitalib Medical College, Islamic Azad University of Yazd, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmani Nodoushan
keywords: Brain CT scan; Children; Epilepsy; Neuroimaging