Dietch listed criteria for selecting a patient with dementia who may benefit from a CT scan. The author is from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Long Beach, California.
A CT scan was considered beneficial if it could identify a potentially treatable cause of the dementia.
Parameters
No Benefit
Possible Benefit
duration of dementia
>= 30 days
< 30 days
head trauma in the week before change in mental status
no
yes
onset of changes in mental status
gradual
abrupt
history of cancer
no
yes
history of stroke
no
yes
history of seizures
no
yes
history of urinary incontinence
no
yes
focal cerebral signs
no
yes
papilledema
no
yes
visual field defect
no
yes
apraxia
no
yes
gait ataxia
no
yes
A CT scan should be considered if one or more of the conditions associated with a possible benefit are found. Otherwise a scan is unlikely to benefit the patient.
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