Cranial computerized tomography in the diagnosis of brain disorders in infants and children.

Cranial computerized tomography (CCT) has opened new dimensions in the diagnosis of neuropediatric disorders. The results of this new method are comparable to gross neuropathology. Thereby it is often possible to avoid further invasive neuroradiological investigations. This is especially true of pneumoencephalography which, according to the present state of CCT, is no longer indicated. Optimal diagnostic results can be achieved only if the patients is cooperative and does not move his head during the scanning procedure. Therefore in infants general anaesthesia is necessary. Sedation alone has proved to be not sufficient. The numerous new findings gained by CCT cover nearly all types of intracranial lesions. First of all the direct visualization of brain tumours in their relations to the surrounding structures, the surprising findings in inflammatory diseases of the brain, and the impressive demonstration of brain anomalies make CCT superior to all conventional neuroradiological investigations. Only for planning a surgical intervention and in vascular disorders angiography remains irreplacable.