[Value of computer tomography in the diagnosis of impression fractures of the cranial vault].

There are only few statements about the validity of computed tomography for the identification of impression fractures of the skull cap. The diagnostic information of roentgenograms without contrast medium and computed tomograms of a total of 15 patients were evaluated and compared. It was found that computed tomography was slightly superior to conventional X-ray examinations with respect to the diagnostic accuracy. Exact localisation, size, shape, and position of the bony impressions can be better appraised by the assessment in several axial CT section planes. The simultaneous consideration of the sequelae of the intracranial traumata by computed tomography enables a complete assessment of the craniocerebral trauma. The appropriate combination of conventional X-ray diagnosis with computed tomography should lead to an optimum diagnostic information also for these clinical pictures.