Evaluation of Diagnostic Value of Computed Tomography in Headache Patients in Benghazi

Abstract

Headache is the most common complaint faced by physicians. Referring these cases for a computed tomography (CT) scan requires awareness of red flags in the history and examination by physicians. An assessment of the diagnostic utility of CT among headache patients will help determine the most prevalent causes of headache and identify those who get benefit from it. is to find out the proportion of cranial abnormalities in patients with headache without neurologic abnormalities with the use of a CT scan. Also, to illustrate the most common causes of headache in these patients. This study was carried out among 217 patients with isolated headache who underwent a plain, non-contrast enhanced CT of the brain and para-nasal sinus (PNS).The median age was 34 years. The most prevalent age group was between 20 and 39 years old. The most common cases were females. The female to male ratio was 1.5:1. The most frequently occurring cases in 2012 came from the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department. The paranasal sinuses (PNS) scan was used by 58.53%, and the brain scan was used by 41.47%. The normal scan was 55.3% and the positive scan was 44.7%, which was further categorized into minor incidental findings (17.97%) and significant abnormalities (26.73%).Abnormal findings represent 44.7% of cases. The most common major abnormality was sinusitis. An equal proportion (3.45%) of major abnormalities included sino-nasal polyposis, chronic small-vessel ischemic changes, a suspicious brain tumor, and a suspicious nasopharyngeal mass.