Noorul Hadi, Ayesha Amin, Kalsoom Nawab.
Cranial computed tomography in patients with headache.
J Med Sci Jan ;17(1):19-21.

Objectives: To determine the role of computed tomography (with contrast or without contrast) in patients with the history of headache only and without any clinical problem related to diseases of eyes or ENT. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive study which was conducted at the Radiology Department of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar over a period of six months i.e. from December 2006 to May 2007. Patients from 13 to 70 years of age of both sexes who were referred to Radiology Department with the history of Headache only were subjected to CT Scan examination. Results: Out of 100 patients, only 11 (11%) showed abnormalities and only 2 (2%) had serious abnormalities that needed further management i.e meningioma in a 35 years old female and a glioma in a 70 years old male patient. The rest were benign conditions including 5 cases of sinusitis and 3 cases of age related brain atrophy. Conclusion: It is concluded that computed tomography in patients with the history of headache only without any focal neurological deficit has a very low likelihood of detecting any significant intracranial pathology.

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