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Assessment of Cognitive Impairment: The Role of CT

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Marica Varga ,
George Wortzman  and
Morris Freedman
Marica Varga
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, (Division of Geriatrics), University of Toronto, Toronto
George Wortzman
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, University of Toronto, Radiologist-in-Chief, Mount Sinai HospitalToronto
Morris Freedman*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine (Division of Neurology), University of Toronto, Rotman Research Institute of Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Department of Medicine (Behavioural Neurology), Baycrest Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital Research Institute, Toronto
*
Baycrest Hospital, 3560 Bathurst Street, Room 4W36, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1
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Abstract:

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The value of CT as a routine screening procedure in the investigation of cognitive impairment is being increasingly challenged. To address this issue, we reviewed the records of 175 patients with intellectual deficits admitted to a Behavioural Neurology Unit over a two-year period. In the vast majority of cases, ie. 82%, the CT served essentially to confirm the clinical impression and added no new diagnostic information that impacted the management of the presenting problem. In 15% of cases the CT scan was helpful for diagnosis, especially in the differentiation between Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , May 1991 , pp. 129 - 131
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1991

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