Study of intracranial structural lesions diagnosed by computed tomography among children with unprovoked seizure disorder

ABSTRACT

Background: Seizures are the most common pediatric neurological disorder. The objectives were to know the prevalence and types of intracranial structural lesions diagnosed by Computed Tomography in children with unprovoked seizures.Methods: It is hospital based cross-sectional study done in Patna Medical College, India from August 2005- July 2007. All patients aged 6 months to 12 years admitted in pediatrics department with at least 2 episodes of unprovoked seizures were undergone Computed Tomography brain.Results: Out of total 112 patients admitted, 66.1% had abnormal CT scan. Prevalence of abnormal CT scan increased with advancing age and significant, with maximum percentage found in age group 10-12 years (43.2%). Males had more seizures and intracranial lesion than females but this association was statistically non-significant. 65.2% had generalized seizure and 34.8% had partial seizure. Among patients with abnormal CT scan, generalized seizure (70.3%) and partial seizure (29.7%).The commonest' probable diagnosis was tuberculoma (47.3%) followed by neurocysticercosis (25.7%) and brain abscess (4%). Other were atrophy, gliosis and hydrocephalus, 2.5% each; arachnoid cyst, extradural hematoma, sturge weber syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, infarct, hemiatrophy, caudate lobe hemorrhage, basal ganglia calcification, corpous callosum agenesis, 1.35% each.Conclusions: Inflammatory granuloma is the leading cause of unprovoked seizure in this part of the country. Every seizure case should undergo a CT scan examination. Preventive measures can be applied for tuberculoma and NCC so as to lower down the burden of seizure disorder.