15.Computed Tomography Head Scan to Evaluate Patient with Chief Complaint of Headache: Is It Necessary and Cost-Effective?
Lubna Shamshad, Mohammad Akhtar, Mahzar Shafeeq, Kailash Tanwani, Shomaila Memon and Sehrish Sethar
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness of computed tomography head scan in patients with chief complaints of headache.
Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the department of Radiology, PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi from February, 2018 to December, 2018.
Materials and Methods: Total 401 patients with chief complaint of headache were included. CTHS were carried out and reports were evaluated. A pre structured questionnaire was filled by principal investigator to record the findings. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS. Frequency and percentages were reported for qualitative variables. Mean and standard deviation were reported for quantitative variable. Bivariate analysis was done using fisher exact test. Level of significance was set at 0.05.
Results: The studied population contained 63.8% male and 36.2% female patients. Mean was found to be 37.39±17.30 years. Among 401 patients included in the studied population, 323 patients (84% of males and 74.5% of the females) were found to have normal CTHS results and while 76 patients (16% of males and 25.5% of the females) were found to have abnormal CTHS results.
Conclusion: CTHS is not a cost-effective method of diagnosing the cause of headache. If the patients have no associated symptoms and sign of intracranial pathology, CTHS is seldom helpful in the diagnosis of the cause of headache. It should be advised only after the detailed study of clinical history and neurological examination.
Key Words: Computerized Tomography, cost-effectiveness, headache, intracranial pathology, neuro-imaging, neuro-physician and patients
Citation of article: Shamshad L, Akhtar M, Shafeeq M, Tanwani K, Memon S, Sethar S. Computed Tomography Head Scan to Evaluate Patient with Chief Complaint of Headache: Is It Necessary and Cost-Effective?. Med Forum 2022;33(2):65-69.