Incidental focal intracranial computed tomographic findings.

Of 3000 consecutive computed tomography (CT) head scans there were 28 adult patients who had a focal intracranial lesion, who presented with nonspecific symptoms, and who had normal initial neurological examination. These lesions included cerebral infarction (8), focal atrophy (5), intracerebral haematoma (3), chronic subdural haematoma (3), focal calcification (3) and intracranial neoplasm (6). Neurological consultation was obtained after the CT in all cases. Angiography was subsequently performed in 16, and eight patients underwent surgery. In no case was there evidence that clinical outcome was improved because of the early CT diagnosis.