ABSTRACT:Introduction: Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) is defined as abrupt onset of a neurological deficit that is attributable to a focal vascular cause. CT scan is a widely available, affordable, non-invasive and relatively accurate investigation in patients with stroke and is important to identify stroke pathology and exclude mimics. Aim of this study is to establish the diagnostic significance of computed tomography in cerebrovascular accident and to differentiate between cerebral infarction and cerebral haemorrhage with CT for better management of CVA. Methods: A one year observational cross sectional study was conducted in 100 patients that presented at the department of radiodiagnosis from emergency or ward within the one year of study period with the clinical diagnosis of stroke, and had a brain CT scan done within one to fourteen days of onset. Results: A total of 100 patients were studied. 66 were male and 34 were female with a male/female ratio of 1.9:1. Maximum number of cases (39%) was in the age group of 61-80 yrs. Among 100 patients, 55 cases were clinically diagnosed as hemorrhagic stroke and 45 cases were clinically diagnosed with an infarct. Out of the 55 hemorrhagic cases, two cases were diagnosed as both hemorrhage and infarct by CT scan, one case had normal CT scan findings and one had subdural haemorrhage. These four cases were excluded while comparing the clinical diagnosis with CT scan finding. Among 51 clinically diagnosed cases of hemorrhagic stroke, 32(62.7%) cases were proved by CT scan as hemorrhagic stroke and among clinically diagnosed cases of infarct, 39(86.7%) cases were proved by CT scan as infarct which is statistically significant (p <0.001). A significant agreement between clinical and CT diagnosis was observed as indicated by kappa value of 0.49. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of clinical findings as compared to CT in diagnosing hemorrhage were 84.2%, 67.2%, 62.8% and 86.7% respectively. The accuracy of clinical diagnosis is 74%. Conclusion: This study showed that CT scan is a useful diagnostic modality to identify stroke pathology and to exclude mimics.

Objective: To investigate the implication of a computed tomography scan for headache with non-localizing sign. Materials and methods: One hundred and thirty six patients with headache having non-localizing signs were included in this prospective study. Patients with age > 11 years, incomplete radiological or clinical data, recent/new onset headache, any immunosuppressive state, neurological deficits at the time of presentation, history of fever, trauma, any previous surgical intervention and any malignancy were excluded from the study. Results: Among the 136 patients, 73% were females and 27% were males with age range of 11-76 years. Negative computed tomography scan was present in 91 (66.9 %) cases. Positive findings that significantly influenced the management were present in only 6 (4.4%) cases. Conclusion: Computed tomography in headache with non-localizing signs has a poor yield for a significant intracranial pathology. A careful and detailed assessment curtails the need for inadvertent imaging thus reducing the economic burden and health related hazards.

Not Availabvle.JNGMC Vol. 13 No. 2 December 2015, Page: 46