The evaluation of head trauma by computed tomography.

A retrospective study of 133 patients with documented head trauma is presented. Computed tomography (C.T.) has replaced cerebral angiography in the evaluation of these patients at our institutions. C.T. provides a rapid noninvasive diagnosis, plus accurate localization of lesions; it also allows for the assessment of multiple lesions. The authors feel that C.T. should be the first neurological mode of investigation after plain skull radiographs. It is important to obtain good quality scans, and intravenous sedation or general anaesthesia may be required.