Meningitis CT


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:

Computed Tomography

 * The role of the head CT is controversial. It should obviously be preformed in all patients with suspected elevations in intracranial pressure (ICP), however this is often a difficult clinical diagnosis.
 * Approximately 50% of the patients in Durand’s study with focal neuro findings had CT abnormalities, whereas CT findings were seen in only 17% of patients without focal findings on exam (p < 0.01).
 * Quagliarello and Scheld recommend getting CTs only in patients who are comatose, have papilledema or who have focal neuro deficits.